Smallpox, also known as variola, is a highly contagious and serious infectious disease caused by the variola virus. It is a serious and deadly infection that can spread from person to person and cause permanent scarring. It can even spread through tiny drops of an infected person’s saliva when the person coughs or sneezes. It also passes from person to person during close and face-to-face contact.

This blog is drafted by taking insights from Dr. Promilla Butani, a general pediatrician in Delhi aims to outline the symptoms of smallpox in children. Read on for more insights.

Let’s understand the symptoms of smallpox:

The first symptom of smallpox appears 10 days after the child gets exposed to the smallpox virus. Also, the virus can be in the body for 8–10 days before the child feels sick. The symptoms of smallpox often appear similar to the flu-like symptoms, which include the following:

• Fever
  
  

• Muscle aches
  
  

• Headache
  
  

• Severe fatigue
  
  

• Severe back pain
  
  

• Vomiting, sometimes
  
  

After a few days, the body starts developing flat and red patches. They could occur on the tongue and later on in the mouth too. The most affected areas after the face, and legs are the chest, hands, and feet. Almost all the spots develop into blisters, which have clear fluids. Later on, the pus begins to fill the blisters. After a few days, the scabs begin to form and then fall off, leaving behind deep scars.

What Causes These Smallpox in Children?

The virus can spread due to the following:

1. Directly from Person to Person: The child can catch the smallpox virus when they are with someone who already has it. An infected person tends to spread the virus while coughing, sneezing, or talking.

2. Indirectly from an Infected Person: Smallpox can spread through the air, inside one room, and can infect children in other rooms and other floors.

3. Through Contaminated Items: Contact with contaminated bedding or clothing is likely to spread smallpox.

What are the Complications Associated With Smallpox?

Most children get smallpox, but there are some complications associated with it. Children who recover from smallpox often experience severe scars, especially on the face, arms, and legs. Sometimes, smallpox causes vision loss (blindness).

If one’s child is experiencing symptoms of smallpox, it is best to consult experts like Dr. Promilla Butani, the best child specialist in Delhi, at Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice. She will manage the symptoms of the child and protect their immune system by offering a smallpox vaccination.

Besides this, the expert child specialist also offers guidance to parents on breastfeeding, provides guidance to adolescents, and provides a range of vaccinations too. For more details, visit Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice today!