Atopic dermatitis in children today, unfortunately, is a very common occurrence. Doctors define this disease as a chronic, hereditary, non-infectious inflammation of the skin of an allergic nature. Atopic dermatitis is characterized by a prolonged course with periods of remissions and exacerbations, when a rash appears in different parts of the body, which is always preceded by severe skin itching.
For the first time in adulthood, this disease is rare, mostly they start to hurt even in infancy and early childhood: 65% of patients are diagnosed in their first year of life, almost all (90%) are up to five years old. Now, approximately one in five children suffers from atopic dermatitis, and every tenth resident in developed countries has at least once encountered manifestations of this insidious disease. In half the cases, the symptoms of atopic dermatitis remain for life, or even exacerbated by other more complex, mostly allergic, diseases. But, mainly, this happens in cases where a sick child was not promptly provided with qualified help and the course of the disease has worsened too much. If you learn to control atopic dermatitis, constantly prevent exacerbations, stimulate the child’s immunity, then it is highly likely that the child’s body can completely defeat the disease by 4-5 years, and in some cases even earlier.
Causes and symptoms of the disease.
The causes of atopic dermatitis are very diverse and have not yet been thoroughly studied, so no doctor will be able to answer with certainty the question of what could cause this disease in a particular case. Among the main and obvious reasons are the following:
- Hereditary conditionality: if someone from close relatives suffered or is suffering from any allergic disease (blood pressure, bronchial asthma, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, etc.), then in 50% of cases the child will inherit susceptibility to atopic dermatitis (AD);
- Poor environmental conditions and poor-quality, unnatural food;
- Stress of the mother during pregnancy, the very child at an early age, unhealthy atmosphere in the family;
- The high content of allergenic products in the diet of a pregnant woman (especially in the last trimester) both during breastfeeding and in the diet of the child himself. Even excessive consumption a few months before giving birth to margarine, citrus and vegetable oils can trigger the appearance of atopic dermatitis in infants.
As a rule, atopic manifestations occur after the body interacts with an allergen (food, respiratory or contact) or after a sharp change in the living conditions of the body (for example, bathing in too hot water, hypothermia, etc.).
The localization and nature of the rashes change with the age of a person:
- Atopic dermatitis in infants is manifested by a rash in the form of flaky red spots on the face (mainly on the cheeks), on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the legs and arms;
- in children from one and a half to two years until adolescence, blood pressure predominantly manifests itself in thickened skin with an underlined pattern on the flexion surfaces of the legs, arms and neck;
- in adults, these changes are common, sometimes isolated dense nodules (often on the hands) with characteristic itching are noted.
Almost always with atopic dermatitis in children, dry skin is expressed, especially in affected areas. Itching negatively affects the quality of sleep, manifested in various disorders. Hence the nervous disorders of varying degrees, which in turn provoke the same itch - a vicious circle forms.
Atopic dermatitis in children: treatment and prevention.
There are several fundamental principles for the treatment of blood pressure:
- Hypoallergenic diet, elimination of various allergens;
- Taking antihistamines that effectively relieve itching (often advised to first try “Suprastin”, “Zodak”, etc.);
- Detoxification of the body, that is, the use of drugs that remove harmful substances from the body, including allergens;
- Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents in case of infection, which is not uncommon due to skin failure to perform its functions and constant scratching and wounds.
Parents should remember that atopic dermatitis in children requires long-term treatment even without symptoms of exacerbation and serious prevention of relapses that can be triggered by climatic effects (for example, such children are contraindicated in sunbathing, sudden changes in temperature and their too high or low), pollution and skin lesions, infections and household irritants (allergenic foods and food additives, cigarette smoke, cosmetics and other household chemicals, wool).
Among the preventive measures are effective and such as: maintaining the room where the child is, air temperature of about 21º and humidity not less than 60%; use only synthetic blankets and pillows, and cotton clothes; systematic ventilation, regular wet cleaning and elimination of sources of dust and mold; prevention of conditions provoking sweating and itching; Prevention of drying out of the skin through regular short water procedures and the subsequent use of high-quality moisturizing cosmetics; leveling stress situations. Often, recovering, or at least removing the exacerbation, helps to rest at sea, but it is better for him to choose a place with a warm, dry sea climate (for example, the coast of the Sea of Azov).
Atopic dermatitis in children can and should be controlled so that it does not completely affect the quality of life of the child and remains only in the memories of the parents.