Herpetic eczema: symptoms and treatment

Herpetic eczema is a lesion of the skin. This is a viral disease that is more common in infants and young children. About 90% of the population are latent carriers of the virus.

Definition

In 1887, as a result of a study of skin rashes, the Hungarian scientist Kaposi M gave the disease the name "herpetiform eczema." Today, old terms are replaced by a new definition. The herpetic eczema presented on the photo (former herpetiform), most clearly reflects the characteristics of the origin and course of dermatosis.

The disease is the result of the development of infections provoked by herpes of the first or second type. The virus, which affects organs and causes red blisters on the skin, sometimes appearing as a whole spot and causing unpleasant sensations, has another name - "herpetic Kaposi's eczema." The disease complicates the course of chronic dermatoses, progressing against a background of immune disorders.

Pathogenesis

Sources of the disease - a person infected with herpes, the closest relative. Routes of transmission - airborne, direct contact or during pregnancy from mother to fetus, as well as in contact with affected skin, mucous membrane, saliva. The causative agent is neutralized within ten hours, so the virus can be transmitted through household items, children's toys.

Other causes of herpetic eczema are mycosis, burns, ichthyosis, chronic follicular dyskeratosis, and weakened immunity. The disease is diagnosed in people who have used corticosteroid drugs externally.

With the penetration of the virus into the body by contact, sexually, through damage to the skin and mucous membranes, the layers of the skin are broken and organs, including the eyes, brain, lungs, and liver, are affected. Herpes in a dormant state can be present in the body of many people. Stress, colds, poor nutrition, lack of hygiene, and contact with a sick person provoke its activity.

In adults, herpetic Kaposi's eczema is less common than in children, which is associated with various immunity stability, which forms before reaching the age of 15. In order for the disease to progress, the virus needs to integrate into the DNA chain. This occurs in case of infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2.

Herpetiform eczema is most often activated with atopic dermatitis (allergic rash), neurodermatitis (as a result of stress and neurosis), which aggravates the condition of the skin.

In adults, the disease can be associated with prolonged use of hormonal drugs, low immunity, frequent furunculosis, pityriasis versicolor.

Factors contributing to the manifestation of herpetic eczema in children:

• exhaustion of the body;
• prematurity;
• poor quality artificial feeding;
• tendency to rashes.

Symptoms

Signs of herpes are detected a few days after infection. The incubation period lasts from two to seven, sometimes up to ten days. The incidence increases in late autumn, winter, and early spring.

How is herpetic eczema manifested:

• At the end of the incubation period, in the absence of symptoms, the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, the lymph nodes swell. The skin turns red, becomes inflamed, and then rashes appear in the form of papules.
• A depression forms in the center of the eczema element, and around it there is an inflamed epidermis.
• After all stages of development have passed, noticeable foci of lesion are indicated on the skin due to bursting elements.

With a mild form of herpetic eczema, the photo of which is placed in the article, the elements dry out within three weeks after the formation of a crust - the dried liquid of the bursting bubbles. Other signs of the disease are disturbing depending on the health of the victim.

Symptoms of herpetic eczema:

• temperature increase sometimes - up to 40 degrees, which cannot be brought down;
• swelling and redness of the skin;
• priority places of defeat - upper body;
• the formation of bubbles with purulent fluid;
• prevailing shades - from red to black;
• profuse rash;
• worsening condition, difficulty breathing and palpitations, shortness of breath;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• the appearance of wounds, cracks, sores that can bleed.

The rash can affect the eyes, mucous membranes, and digestive organs. More serious complications of herpetic eczema are common in babies. The duration of the disease depends on the state of immunity, the method of treatment, the responsibility of the patient. Within three weeks, recovery is possible. Damage to the nervous system leads to death.

Diagnostics

Any type of disease gives reason to see a doctor. If time is lost and the disease progresses, the treatment of herpetic eczema in children is much more complicated.

During a visual examination, a specialist will confirm the presence of an existing disease. The result will be positive with direct contact of the child with a herpes simplex patient 5-10 days before the onset of the disease. For the purpose of diagnosis, the patient must pass a blood test, as well as particles of the affected tissue for examination.

Popular methods for diagnosing herpetic eczema:

• Cytological examination of the contents of herpetic vesicles: cells with intranuclear inclusions of herpetic infection are found in the fluid.
• Virological culture research is the most reliable, but time-consuming method, in which on the second day intranuclear inclusions are found in infected tissues.
• Informative method: virus isolation from various cell cultures, detection of viral antigens. High-speed methods are highly specific, but less susceptible to virological research. PCR is the most sensitive and fastest type of laboratory diagnosis.
• Electron microscopy. The contents of the vesicles serves as a tool for microscopy preparations contrasting with tungsten phosphoric acid. Use for clarification electron microscopy and immunofluorescence methods.
• Serological methods can detect antibodies to the virus. They are of relative value, since at an early age, the presence of antibodies can indicate the result of their passive transmission from the mother’s placenta, and at an older age - the transferred herpes disease. Reliable can be considered a fourfold increase in antibody titer and the appearance of serum IgM for HSV.

A characteristic feature for a year of age up to a year is pronounced leukocytosis in the peripheral blood. Secondary infection may occur, while older children have neutropenia or a normal white blood cell count.

Treatment

The most common drug for herpes is "Acyclovir": for patients in serious condition - in the form of injections, for the early stages - tablets and external use. The use of folk remedies is permissible, but they can be used after consulting a doctor.

Treatment of herpetic eczema includes:

• Diet: the exception of spicy, smoked, fried, plentiful drink.
• Antipyretic drugs, if necessary, which the doctor will prescribe.
• Antibiotics, as a prerequisite in order to limit the spread of infection throughout the body.
• Antifungal medicines.
• Ointments and creams for external use.
• Antihistamines - to eliminate the symptoms of allergies (itching, swelling).
• Vitamin complexes to enhance immunity.

In the process of treatment, contact with eczema patients is prohibited, since it becomes more difficult to cure the disease. The course of therapy is designed for a duration of about two weeks. Launched cases may require treatment within six months.

Features of the disease in children

Herpetic eczema can occur in a child from the age of two months. Most often, children who are breast-fed and suffering from atopic dermatitis fall into the number of sick people. But the largest number of patients are children aged from six months to two years.

In the baby’s blood, the level of immunoglobulins that fight foreign microorganisms drops. Own antibodies are produced in a child by two years. The norm of immunoglobulins by age is as follows:

• 4 days of life - 5 months - 94% of cases;
• 6 months - 1 year - 20%;
• 1-2 years - 60% of cases, due to the formation of their own antibodies.

The highest percentage of the incidence of herpetic eczema occurs in the interval from 7 months to a year. At risk are children, for the treatment of which hormonal ointments from atopic and other types of dermatitis were used, as well as those who had ARVI.

Effects

With an extremely severe course of herpetic eczema, meningitis, pneumonia, kidney and liver diseases, sepsis are possible, which is unsafe for babies. The causes of death are acute edema, stenosis of the larynx, palpitations, cramps, stiff neck, and other symptoms.

With herpetic eczema in adults and children, septic complications are not excluded: purulent otitis media, strepto- and staphyloderma. In children under one year of age, the disease is severe, the development of complications is very likely.

Regardless of the severity of the condition, regional lymphadenitis is observed - an increase in the cervical, occipital, submandibular nodes. In 60% of cases, hepatosplenomegaly develops, in 20% - splenomegaly. Perhaps a disorder of the stool, relapses occur without disturbing the general condition.

Folk remedies for eczema

Accurately determine which internal disease caused eczema, as well as an effective method of treatment, can only be done by a qualified dermatologist. Alternative methods for quality treatment are not enough, but they can be a good help in recovery.

Areas affected by eczema should be protected from direct sunlight, tied with bandages, sprinkled with talcum powder. Skin wet from eczema cannot be wetted: baths with oak bark and others are prescribed for treatment.

Natural remedies and simple methods to help with eczema:

1. Lemon. On the first day, take juice of 5 lemons in several sets. The next day - the juice of 10 lemons, and increasing the dose, reach 25 citrus fruits. Then, every day, reduce their number by 5 pieces. Lemons are able to "get rid of" the most stubborn eczema.
2. Starvation. This method is carried out under the supervision of specialists, and it is suitable only for adult patients. 5-7 days of dry therapeutic fasting are recommended.
3. Honey with garlic: products taken in equal amounts (pre-cook and knead the garlic) apply on gauze to the affected area, cover with wax paper, strengthen the dressing. The next day, wash with green soap, and go through the procedure again. After the disappearance of the scales, apply a compress with a bandage only at night, previously wiping with gasoline.
4. Nutmeg (1 pc.), Ginger and galangal (little by little): pour the ingredients with alcohol (1 bottle), insist for two days. Prepared to rub the skin. At the same time, it is recommended to take a glass of decoction of yarrow and elderberry taken equally.
5. Fresh leaves of geranium: boil for about an hour over low heat, then take a bath with a decoction. A tissue dampened in the resulting product will help relieve acute symptoms on the skin. At the same time, it is advisable to drink an infusion of juniper berries to cleanse the blood.
6. Garlic and herbs. It is recommended to use garlic in large quantities, taking infusion of mint, elderberry, wormwood, taken in equal quantities.
7. Nuts with fish oil. The tool is suitable for the treatment of eczema in children. Bake the inshell nuts in the oven until brown, then crush, add fish oil (1 tsp). Lubricate sore spots twice a day.
8. Corn oil. Take a tablespoon in the morning and evening for a month, washed down with a glass of warm water, adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and honey. The tool will relieve symptoms, soften the skin, giving elasticity.

Tincture of birch buds for oral and bath:

• Infusion: birch buds - 100 g, alcohol (70%) - 500 g. Grind the raw materials in a blender, pour with sleep, leave for 7 days.
• Bath: Dissolve 10 ml of tincture in 10 l of water for taking a bath. Improvement is observed after five treatments. The skin takes on a healthy appearance, but pain and tightening are felt in the process.

Compresses for eczema:

• Burdock. Put the crushed sheet on the affected skin, cover with a whole sheet, fasten with a bandage. Suppose a compress of infusion of dry leaves.
• Pumpkin. Grate the pulp, attach to a sore spot, fasten with a bandage.
• Fir oil. To apply on skin, to leave for a while for absorption.
• Fat. Mix melted pork fat or goose fat with fir oil in equal volumes, and to keep the mass homogeneous, hold it for a while over low heat.
• Carrot. Apply grated carrots, after squeezing the juice, to places affected by eczema 2-3 times a day.
• Cabbage. Gruel from cabbage, mixed with egg white, apply 2 times a day. Poultices from vegetable leaves, boiled in milk and mixed with bran, are recommended. Compresses need to be done up to two times a day. An additional way: immerse a leaf of cabbage in apple cider vinegar, knead until the juice comes out, put on the affected area and fix it with a bandage. Compress will relieve itching and pain.

Forecast

The prognosis is disappointing due to the risk of dangerous complications. According to statistics, the lethal outcome is from 5 to 30%. The most common causes: sepsis, meningoencephalitis, pneumonia. The likelihood of serious consequences is reduced if the diagnosis is made in a timely manner, proper patient care is carried out, the treatment is organized correctly.

Since weakened children are more likely to become infected, strengthening immunity is the prevention of atopic dermatitis and herpes infections in general. The prognosis of the course of the disease in a child depends on the timeliness of treatment of herpetic eczema, skin care. If the condition is complicated by sepsis, pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, the likelihood of death is significantly increased.

Prevention

Prevention of herpetic eczema does not have specific methods of preventing the disease. It is to protect healthy people from communicating with the sick. At the first suspicious signs, you should seek confirmation from a specialist and thereby take care of the rest of the family or team.

The development of preventive measures is hampered by the fact that infection begins with the simple penetration of a virus that is incurable. The causative agent may be asymptomatic in the body for a long time. In other ways, in addition to protecting patients from healthy ones, it is impossible to prevent infection with the virus.

Prevention and treatment of herpetic eczema are aimed at maintaining and strengthening immunity. The recommendations include a number of simple rules, such as hygiene. Washing your hands will prevent not only dermatosis, but also a number of other infections.

For the sake of eliminating allergic reactions, any products that can cause a rash (acute, fatty, alcoholic) should be removed from the diet. Avoid the consumption of fish of fatty varieties, young meat, pork, game, strawberries and strawberries. The best preference is plant foods.

You need to cook in enameled or clay dishes. Allergens act both through food and tissue - this must be monitored. For babies, bathing in herbal decoctions of chamomile and a string is useful, which eliminates dry skin.

Walking in the fresh air will benefit the child’s immunity, thereby reducing the likelihood of eczema.

As the photo confirms, herpetic eczema in children has an unsightly appearance, and constant itching adds discomfort. Scratching the lesion leads to eczema on the fingers. Therefore, careful prevention will help to avoid relapse.