Every person sooner or later catches a cold, but is the disease itself as unpleasant as its consequences? With weakened immunity, there is a huge risk that complications will appear after a cold, and quite often catarrh (lichen zoster) appears as such. Little is known about this pathology today.
It is believed that the causative agent is nevertheless herpes of the seventh type. Representatives of both sexes are equally affected by the virus. Most often, pink lichen occurs between the ages of 10 and 40 years, and it is after a cold. But there is good news - lichen is absolutely not contagious and has no relapses.
Clinical picture
Catarrh is manifested at the initial stage with pink spots, which do not exceed 3 centimeters in diameter. Maternal plaques are larger, and then the disease proceeds against the background of the appearance of smaller spots that can form on any part of the body. Most often, they form on the stomach, sides and back. A characteristic symptom of lichen is persistent skin itching.
The incubation period is 2 weeks, but with improper treatment, the disease can drag on for months.
Possible reasons
At risk are people whose colds have become protracted - from 4 to 6 months. It appears in the autumn-spring period, when the seasonal epidemic of SARS begins.
The main reason for the appearance of colds is weakened immunity. However, a depressed state can also trigger the development of the disease. Although, most often, the initiator of lichen is bacterial and viral infections. However, they are relevant only at the time of the onset of the disease, and in the future only an allergic reaction begins, which is expressed in the appearance of pink spots.
Symptomatology
The main symptom of colds is pink spots on the skin. But this is not the only thing that brings discomfort. The patient has severe itching, the skin is strongly constricted, it is dry and burns. Itching does not give rest at night or day.
Over time, the affected areas of the skin become wrinkled, coarsened crusts appear. As one spot disappears, another appears in another place. During the week, about 10 waves of rash can be observed. After the treatment, there are no traces on the skin.
In some patients, subfebrile temperature may rise, lymph nodes may increase, especially in the jaw and neck, but such symptoms are quite rare.
Extraneous factors can affect the speed of deprivation throughout the body. For example, if clothes are tight or a person is washing in a bath. Alternative agents can become a provocative factor, which have nothing to do with this type of disease: the use of sulfur, tar or sunbathing.
Therapeutic measures
Some doctors are completely sure that it is possible not to treat colds, as it will pass on its own after a couple of weeks. One can say even more: there is not even a specific protocol that a doctor could rely on in determining treatment tactics.
Another part of doctors believes that the lack of treatment for this type of pathology can lead to the development of eczema. And to get rid of the rash faster, antiseptic drugs, ointments and talkers are used.
Drug therapy
The use of the antibacterial agent Erythromycin may be recommended. It allows you to stop the spread of the rash throughout the body and prevent bacterial complications. If the disease already lasts more than 7 days, then it is not advisable to prescribe this drug.
"Acyclovir" is a drug that is also often used in the treatment of colds. This is an antiviral drug, which in combination with antibacterial agents stimulates the improvement of the body's immune forces.
And in order to save the patient from intolerable itching and swelling, Suprastin is prescribed.
Preparations for external use
A rather unpleasant sight is even a photo of a cold depriving, therefore, in order to get rid of the external manifestations of the disease as quickly as possible, ointments are prescribed to the patient:
- Lorinden. This ointment copes well with hyperemia of the skin, quickly relieves swelling and inflammation, so that the sensation of itching disappears.
- "Flunzinar." It is also a hormonal ointment, a synthetic corticosteroid. The tool copes well with swelling and itching.
- You can use salicylic or zinc ointments, which contribute to the most rapid exfoliation and removal of clinical symptoms, prevent the appearance of secondary bacterial infections.
Colds in children are treated according to the same method as in adults. The main thing is to prevent plaque infection so that there are no complications.
Alternative treatment
If you prefer traditional methods of treatment, then you should understand that the treatment according to ancient methods will be long, at least 4 weeks. Although it is safe to say that to date, a lot of effective methods of treating colds have been accumulated (a photo of the rash is presented in the article).
- The easiest way to get rid of itching is with a decoction of herbs that should be used to wipe the damaged areas of the skin. For its preparation, oak bark, chamomile and a string are suitable.
- To wipe the rash, you can use a decoction after making buckwheat porridge.
- You can prepare the ointment at home. It will require 20 milliliters of fish oil, baby cream (about 20 grams) and birch tar (5 milliliters). All components mix well and the ointment is ready for use. It is applied to damaged areas of the skin.
- Stains can be wiped with sea buckthorn oil or St. John's wort oil.
- You can make compresses on the mother's plaque. Make them from yeast dough.
The main rule in the fight against lichen is no irritating means containing alcohol, vinegar or garlic. They will not help in any way, but only provoke irritation.
General recommendations and rules of conduct
During the disease, it is forbidden to bathe in the bath, visit the pool, you can only take a quick shower and, if possible, prevent the soaking of the spots. It is also not recommended to take sunbathing, as ultraviolet light will adversely affect the healing process.
It is recommended to refuse to wear clothes made of synthetic and woolen materials. Whenever possible, dress like this to reduce the risk of excessive sweating.
During the treatment period, you will have to abandon any food that may cause irritation. These include: chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee, carbonated drinks.
Indeed, Zhiber's lichen is an unpleasant complication after a cold, but its manifestations are quite simple to cope with. The main thing is not to forget that it is necessary to increase the immune forces of the body and then no virus will no longer cause anxiety and discomfort.