So I don’t want the kids to get sick. But alas, this cannot be avoided. Either one problem prevents the baby from enjoying life, then another. Well, if this trouble is temporary, and soon the child will be healthy, but if it is for a long time ... In many ways, the course of the disease depends on the actions of the parents. At the first suspicion of an illness, you should consult a doctor. This also applies to a disease such as eczema. In children, this is one of the most common pathologies.
Causes of Eczema
The treatment depends on the factors provoking this disease. The causes of this ailment include:
- Heredity. The disease occurs in members of the same family. True, the disease may not remind itself if there are no negative factors (problems with the gastrointestinal tract, taking medications).
- Eczema in a child? Causes may include metabolic disorders and poor nutrition. Allergenicity can form even in the womb, if a woman abuses certain foods: citrus fruits, honey, strawberries and so on. That's why sometimes it happens that a child is several days old, and he already has diathesis.
- Failure of the endocrine system causes a pronounced allergy.
- Impaired functioning of the nervous system. The kid is behind in development. He has an increased sensitivity of the walls of blood vessels. All negative factors easily pass through the baby’s body.
- Artificial feeding is also one of the causes of eczema in children. There is a malfunction in the digestive system, which leads to allergies.
- Infections (pyococcal, candidal, sometimes tuberculous).
- Medicines and vaccinations.
Disease classification
Now let's talk about how eczema looks in children, depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- Erythematous. Redness begins to appear on the skin of the child. They cause discomfort, as they swell and itch.
- Papular. Redness begins to become covered with nodules.
- Vesicular. Nodules turn into bubbles. Inside each of them is a serous secret.
- Soaking. This stage can be described as the most dangerous. Bubbles begin to burst. Liquid comes out of them, the skin becomes soft. During this period, it is very easy to catch an infection.
- Krustoznaya. The affected areas are covered with crusts of frozen liquid.
- Squamous. It is considered the final stage. There is a process of peeling, the skin is updated.
Forms of the disease
We continue to talk about eczema in children. Symptoms and treatment are largely dependent on the form of the disease. Distinguish such forms as:
- Sharp. It has a sudden onset. The skin turns red, swelling appears, vesicles and papules are formed, severe itching. The primary stage proceeds quickly if timely assistance is provided. Otherwise, its period increases.
- Subacute. Symptoms coincide with the acute form, only less pronounced. The rash sometimes acquires a bluish tint. Itching is getting smaller. If help is not provided, the disease may return to the acute stage.
- Chronic The transition of the disease into this form suggests that there will not be a complete elimination of the disease. The stage of remission can be prolonged, but the disease can return at any time under the influence of the following factors: lack of vitamins, illness, “meeting” with the allergen, and others.
Types of disease
When diagnosed with eczema in children, treatment is prescribed depending on the type of disease. We will talk about each of them separately.
- Idiopathic. The skin area turns red and swells. Small vesicles with serous nodules appear on it. The borders of the rash are fuzzy, its location is symmetrical. After some time, the bubbles burst. Of these, liquid is released. After drying of the ulcers, a crust and scales appear. This type of eczema on the hands of a child most often appears between the ages of three to six months. With proper treatment, the ailment disappears, but with a weakening of the immune system may appear again. Exacerbation usually occurs during high humidity.
- Microbial. Appears during the period of damage to the child's body by pathogens, when the baby's immunity is weakened. Peeling erosions with crusts appear. The areas of inflammation are large, the boundaries are clear, the location is peripheral, severe itching - these are the symptoms of eczema on the hands of a child. Treatment includes the use of antihistamines to relieve swelling and discomfort.
- Coin - microbial form. The edges of the inflammation are clearly limited, like coins. The diameter is about three centimeters. The surface is wet, but after some time it becomes covered with a serous crust. Microbids and allergens sometimes appear. If you comb or injure, they merge into one big one. In this case, eczema on the fingers of a child can spread throughout the body. Fighting an ailment will be very difficult.
We’ll also talk about these types of diseases:
- True eczema. Most often, and this is in eighty percent of cases, it occurs at an early age (from three to six months). Red spots appear on the child’s face. Bubbles form on their background. They quickly open, an eroded surface and liquid droplets formed on it. Weeping areas appear. The process quickly begins to spread, affecting other parts of the body. Thus, eczema appears on the feet of children. Serous fluid dries up, crusts form.
- Eczema is seborrheic. This type of rash appears on the scalp. There is no bubble stage and no wetting stage. Sometimes they can appear, but only in folds and during the progression of the disease. Some experts are of the opinion that this is not a form of eczema, but a fusion of two diseases: seborrhea and eczema.
Common symptoms of eczema
Above, we examined the signs of the disease depending on the stage, form and type. In many ways, they differ from each other, but there are common signs. We will talk about them now.
With eczema in a child, the symptoms are as follows:
- A focal area limitation appears. The skin of the feet, hands, face of the baby acquires a red tint, but there is also cyanotic.
- The rash always appears, but depending on the form, it may have some difference.
- Itching, which does not give life during the day and interferes with sleep at night.
- After the bubbles crack, wounds and cracks appear in their place. They are very painful.
- Body temperature rises.
- After treatment, the skin loses its elasticity, becomes dry and cracked.
Complications and diagnostics
If eczema was diagnosed in children, the treatment was carried out out of time, then serious complications may appear.
- Bacterial infection. The child's state of health worsens, vesicles with an unpleasant odor appear, containing pus, constant itching.
- Erythroderma. Inflammation affects the entire surface of the body.
In order to start treatment on time, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first suspicious symptoms. He will diagnose after conducting a series of studies:
- blood analysis;
- histological examination;
- samples of flakes are taken from the surface of the skin;
- allergen tests;
- test with an elimination diet.
The latter is carried out to confirm or exclude atopic dermatitis. For a complete diagnosis, in addition to a dermatologist, consultations will be required: an ENT specialist, a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, and also a neuropsychiatrist for young children.
Treatment: an overview
Eczema in children is usually treated difficultly and for a long time. During the disease, one period is replaced by another: exacerbation by calm. The baby feels the worst in the spring and winter. With a favorable prognosis, eczema may disappear by three years.
The treatment is carried out comprehensively. It is based on the determination of deviations: endocrine, nervous, metabolic, which can cause concomitant diseases.
Getting rid of the disease involves:
- Proper nutrition. For babies, breastfeeding is best. The optimal amount of feed should be followed. For older children, a balanced diet that promotes normal digestion.
- Psychotherapy. The family should have an atmosphere of peace and quiet. Each quarrel of parents negatively affects the health of the crumbs.
- The use of medications. They should be used carefully and only after appointment by a specialist.
- Ethnoscience.
Medical treatment
Now let's talk in more detail about how to treat eczema in a child. The following drugs are prescribed:
- sedatives;
- desensitizing agents;
- sodium bromide;
- antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Dosage is determined depending on the age of the crumbs. All of the above remedies relieve symptoms, prevent the further development of the disease, help the child fall asleep.
In the event that bubbles form and wetting areas appear, calcium lactate is used. The inflammation caused by the allergen is removed using sodium salicylate.
After the acute stage has passed, histaglobulin (injection) is used. The dose is gradually increasing.
If eczema is diagnosed in children, the causes and treatment are interrelated. All drugs are selected based on the conditions that caused the disease, the features of its course and laboratory parameters.
In the most difficult cases, immunomodulators and heterohemotherapy are used. Treatment necessarily includes vitamin therapy.
Four times a day lotions are applied to the inflamed areas that secrete secretions using Burov's liquid, silver nitrate or boric acid.
After the liquid ceases to be secreted, it is necessary to switch to ointments: "Flucinar", "Prednisolone" and others.
A little more about treatment
To get rid of the disease, anti-inflammatory and allergic drugs are simultaneously prescribed.
With an acute form, representatives of the second and third generation are best of all. They do not have a lot of side effects. Medicines of the same type are taken no more than ten days. Otherwise, its effectiveness will begin to decline. The baby is assigned Fenistil. It comes in drops. Mild sedatives will reduce itching.
Eczema on pens, fingers often appears from contact with pets and household chemicals. During the treatment period, the primary task in this case is to remove the allergen.
After the acute stage disappears, immunomodulators and drugs that improve tissue trophism should be used: Gamma Globulin, Levamisole, Methyluracil.
Folk methods
You can not ignore a disease such as eczema in children. Causes, symptoms are identified, treatment should be started immediately. No one says that from the first day they will have to use medicines. Sometimes traditional medicine helps. You should resort to it only after consulting with a specialist.
Children tolerate baths with herbs such as a string, St. John's wort, oak bark, chamomile, sage. You can still add potassium permanganate, starch, a small amount of sea salt to the water.
Inside, decoctions are taken, which include medicinal herbs. For children, one tablespoon twice a day is enough. Infusions are prepared as follows: one glass of boiling water is taken, five grams of dry grass is added to it. It is aged for some time. The broth is ready, you can use it.
If, in addition to eczema, the child's face also has hemorrhagic diathesis, then tincture of lagohilus will be an excellent remedy.
Food
Improper nutrition is one of the main causes of eczema in children. That's why changing the diet in some cases is the only way to get rid of the disease.
If the child has eczema up to a year, and he eats mother’s milk, then the woman will have to reconsider her menu. Do not eat spicy, sweet dishes. Have to give up preservatives. Babies with artificial feeding need to select mixtures for allergy sufferers.
Older children should be given more fermented milk products and less whole milk. The child should eat a large amount of vegetables and fruits. Try to eliminate the use of store juices. Do not give your child a lot of sweets, potatoes, jelly.
The menu of the child should not contain products that provoke the appearance of a rash. It is necessary to limit the use of:
- digestible carbohydrates;
- salty foods;
- spices and spicy foods;
- chocolate.
The basis of the diet should be proteins, cereals, dairy products.
All babies, regardless of age, should be fed strictly at certain hours, you can not overfeed them, as well as introduce early feeding with carbohydrates.
Prevention of Eczema
Now let's talk about how to prevent the disease. This is easier than treating it. The prevention of any disease should be taken seriously, and as for eczema in children, the responsibility doubles. Even a disappeared disease leaves scars. It is already impossible to get rid of them.
Where to start prevention? The following tips come in handy:
- On prevention, you need to think about it even during pregnancy. A woman expecting a baby should lead a good lifestyle. It includes proper nutrition and a normalized daily routine.
- After the baby is born, proper care for the baby should be followed. The child should be tempered, and mother should not abuse harmful products.
- An important factor in prevention, as well as successful treatment, is the observance of hygiene rules. This will prevent the attachment of harmful bacteria and infection. If a child has scratches or abrasions on his torso, then urgently lubricate them with antibacterial ointments.
- Overheating or hypothermia - the number one enemy of the child.
- Review your baby’s wardrobe. Leave in it things only from natural materials.
- No self-treatment in case of rashes! Be sure to consult your doctor. He will find out the causes of the onset of the disease and prescribe the optimal treatment.
From the foregoing, it follows: whether the child will suffer from eczema or not, largely depends on the parents. From the first days of his conception and in the future, father and mother should understand that the health and future of the baby depends on their behavior.
Some tips
During the treatment period, cut the nails of a small child and put on special gloves. This will help to avoid combing pimples, especially if they are located on the face.
Treatment of a disease associated with allergic reactions should begin with the discovery of the cause that caused it.
Eczema is a skin disease. At the first symptoms of the disease, you should contact a dermatologist. To find out the causes of the onset of the disease, consultation of an infectious disease specialist, immunologist and nutritionist is sometimes required.