The appearance of a rash in the groin of a child indicates the development of a pathological process. For one reason or another, each parent met a similar phenomenon. It is important to understand that the causes of the rash may indicate various disorders that affect not only the dermatological area. In some cases, dealing with it can be quite difficult, in other situations it is enough to pay a little more attention to the personal hygiene of the baby.
It is important to establish the cause
To prevent possible health consequences, the cause that caused the rash in the groin of the child should be identified in a timely manner and eliminated. You should not engage in treatment yourself, for this it is better to contact a specialist who will conduct an examination and determine the factor that caused this unpleasant symptom. After this, the child will be prescribed therapy, which does not always involve the use of local drugs. Sometimes oral administration is also required.
Key risk factors
The skin of the child is especially sensitive to external influences on the body, both internal and external. Rashes on the body of a child of the first year of life are not uncommon and are not considered a cause for concern. In the vast majority of cases, the appearance of a rash can mean the following problems:
- Allergic reaction.
- Diaper type dermatitis.
- Prickly heat.
- Fungal skin lesion.
- Scabies.
- Intestinal dysbiosis.
- Eczema.
- Disorders in the endocrine system, including diabetes.
In addition, the localization of the rash in the groin of a child (in the photo) may indicate a pathological process that occurs in one of the baby's systems. Such a phenomenon is considered only a sign of a more serious disease that requires a thorough examination and subsequent treatment. Consider the most common causes of this symptom.
Allergy
When a child is one year old, a rash in the groin is not uncommon.
An allergic reaction can be localized in any part of the body, including the inguinal region. Rashes can have varying degrees of severity and be both pale pink and bright red. An allergic type of irritation is characterized by itching.
The main causes of a child's groin rash in this case will be:
- Food.
- Chemistry for domestic use.
- Personal hygiene products.
- Hygiene items such as wipes, diapers, etc.
- Medicines
Quite often, there are cases of an allergic reaction in children under the age of four. With age, the prevalence of the disease among children decreases.
Dermatitis
The cause of the appearance of a red rash in the groin of a child, as well as in the buttock area, may be the so-called diaper dermatitis. It is believed that this dermatological disease occurs as a result of frequent and prolonged stay of the child in diapers or diapers.
Characteristic features of a rash in a child in the groin area with diaper dermatitis are irritation of the skin, as well as its swelling. In some cases, children have a pustular rash, constant anxiety and the appearance of spots of various sizes and shapes.
Prickly heat
Another common cause of a baby's groin rash is prickly heat. It is quite simple to distinguish such a pathology from dermatitis, while it is much more difficult to carry out differential diagnosis with allergies in case of sweating. In the latter case, the rash is localized in the skin folds, inguinal region and under the armpits.
Increased sweating is not a pathological process, this is due to the fact that in newborn children not all systems and organs work in normal mode. Sweating is a skin reaction that is typical for children under the age of 5-6 years. At an older age, sweat glands begin to work in a standard mode, and epithelial tissues lose their sensitivity.
What else can provoke a rash in the groin of a child?
Candidiasis
As a rule, when a rash is detected, parents decide that it is an allergic reaction or skin irritation caused by diapers or household chemicals. Such a diagnosis as candidiasis in a child can confuse anyone. However, parents should be aware that the appearance of thrush provokes pathogenic microflora. Candida fungus is on the skin of every person, and its active growth and reproduction can be provoked by a decrease in the body's immune qualities.
Children are more vulnerable to exposure to fungi, and the appearance of a rash indicates the presence of internal pathological processes. The child’s body is fragile enough and can be weakened by the following factors:
- Congenital or chronic diseases.
- Intestinal dysbiosis.
- Regular SARS and the flu.
- Disruption of the endocrine system.
- Taking potent antibacterial drugs.
Doctors emphasize that candidiasis can appear even in the absence of serious pathologies in the body. Environmental factors that can provoke a candidal rash are:
- Stressful situation in the family or school.
- Unbalanced nutrition with a lack of nutrients.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene.
Newborn babies are capable of contracting candidiasis from their mother. Fungal cells can be excreted in mother’s milk, as well as transmitted to the child by tactile contact. In addition, the child may become infected while passing the birth canal of an infected woman. Before giving birth, a pregnant woman should be prevented from candidiasis. Thrush of the oral cavity is carried by many children in the first week of life. This cause of a child's groin rash (photo presented) is very common.
Candidiasis has a number of characteristic features that distinguish it from ordinary allergies:
- All spots have clear boundaries and a bright red color.
- The filling of the vesicles is purulent.
- The rash in the groin merges into large spots and foci of inflammation.
- On the skin, you can observe a gray or whitish coating.
- The external genitalia of the child swell and redden.
- There are complaints of pain during urination.
A child with candidiasis behaves uneasily, loses his appetite, sleep disturbance occurs. In addition, the rash is accompanied by severe itching, which also affects the behavior of the child.
Treatment of a rash in a child
If a small rash is found in the groin of a child, immediate action should be taken. The first thing to do in this case is to see a doctor. The pediatrician together with the dermatologist will determine the cause of the rash and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Self-medication can lead to complications and serious consequences for the health of the child.
You can eliminate dermatological irritation in various ways:
- Dietary nutrition.
- Personal hygiene.
- Folk recipes.
- Taking medication.
Any treatment should be discussed with your healthcare provider. To begin with, you can contact a pediatrician, who, if necessary, will refer the child to a dermatologist or infectious disease specialist. It is very important to correctly determine the nature of the rash on the child’s body, since the effectiveness of the therapy depends on this.
Nutrition for this pathology
If redness is caused by the presence of allergies, the first recommendation of a pediatrician will be monitoring the nutrition of the child or mother (if we are talking about a newborn baby). An allergy can occur when a new product is introduced into the diet or when a large amount of any food, such as fruit or juice, is consumed.
Today, special tests are conducted to identify the allergen that causes the rash. Analyzes are taken, including on the reaction to household chemicals. The pathological process will develop until it is possible to completely eliminate the allergen from the life of the child. Treatment consists in monitoring nutrition, as well as taking special antihistamines and enterosorbents, which are designed to remove toxins from the body.
Alternative methods of therapy
The skin of children requires special care from the first days of life. Sometimes get rid of diaper dermatitis or prickly heat in the groin of a child helps traditional medicine methods. Prevention of skin rash consists in taking baths with various herbal decoctions or in a weak solution of manganese. The listed funds have an antiseptic effect, relieve inflammation and irritation, and also soothe the skin.
From herbs to children's baths, it is recommended to add a decoction of chamomile or a string. Plants are hypoallergenic and safe for delicate baby skin.
Conservative treatment of this pathology
In most cases, it is possible to cope with a rash on the child’s body without the use of drugs. However, candidiasis or intense manifestations of an allergic reaction will require the administration of drugs.
To treat an allergic rash, ointments and gels for topical use can be prescribed. In some cases, treatment is supplemented with antihistamines for oral administration. Treatment of candidiasis involves the elimination of the fungus from the inside, that is, the use of antifungal drugs.
Hygiene
Regardless of the reasons that caused the rash in the groin of the child, special attention must be paid to hygiene procedures. In addition to frequent washing of the child, it is necessary to change the diapers and underwear of the child in a timely manner. In addition, you need to give the child to take air baths, which helps in the prevention of skin irritation. In addition, hygiene involves the following measures:
- Regular airing of the room.
- Do not wrap the child and do not wear warmer than necessary.
- Use of special equipment when putting on a diaper.
Parents need to pay great attention to the choice of skin care products for the baby. Not all of them are safe and hypoallergenic.
Prevention of this pathology in children
It must be remembered that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, one must not forget about the following preventive measures:
- Strict observance of personal hygiene.
- A balanced diet of a child and a woman during lactation.
- Strengthening the body's immune properties.
- Regular examinations by a doctor and timely treatment of a problem.
A rash that has already appeared in the groin and armpits of a child requires a visit to a doctor and taking measures to eliminate it. Independently, this phenomenon does not pass. In addition, without proper care and treatment, it can lead to the development of infectious lesions of the skin and organs.