Inflamed skin with a changed color, itching and peeling are considered to be lichen. Its appearance on the scalp may be accompanied by hair loss. The main species are infectious, because their pathogens are fungi and viruses, but there are also non-infectious types of lichen, for example, red flat.
Most often found:
Microsporia and trichophytosis (ringworm) affect the scalp, causing hair loss and itching in this area. Pathogen - fungi transmitted from a sick person or sick animal. Microsporia can affect other parts of the body.
Pityriasis (or multi-colored) lichen is characterized by scaly spots (pink or brown) on the body of various shapes and sizes. Usually they merge with each other. The cause of the appearance is a fungus.
Red lichen planus may appear due to stress or allergies, it is rare in children, but it is difficult, because it affects the skin and mucous membranes. It is believed that the causative agent of this species is a virus. In places of bends and on the genitals, small rashes appear that rise above the level of the skin and merge with time.
Shingles causes the herpes virus. In children under the age of 10 years, the same virus is manifested by chickenpox. A distinctive feature of this type of disease is the "girdle" pain in the chest area. In children, the genitals can be affected. Gradually, at the site of pain, seals first appear, which turn into vesicles that dry out over time.
Pink lichen (or Zheber's lichen) is cyclical, pink spots appear in spring and autumn on the shoulders and chest. Children under 2 years of age rarely suffer from this disease. It is generally accepted that the cause of the appearance of spots is a decrease in immunity in combination with allergies.
Causes of infection
In the vast majority of cases, the cause of lichen in children is fungi that can be transmitted from a sick person or a sick animal. Also, viruses can cause the disease. Exposure to depriving children is due to reduced immunity, while good body defenses can inhibit the development of this disease in the body.
Infection is facilitated by large children's groups (shared towels or combs), contacts with stray dogs and cats, or going to the pool with shared showers.
It is believed that the causes of red flat and pink lichen are stress and allergies, so they are not contagious.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The clinical picture of each type of lichen depends on the variety of the pathogen, but the individual characteristics of the body can affect the manifestation of a particular sign.
For diagnosis, a dermatologist performs an examination, and also uses research methods such as taking a scraping from the outbreak, examination with a Wood lamp, since lichen can be treated only after differential diagnosis with other dermatological diseases.
All types of lichen in children have such common symptoms as itching on the skin, flaky skin and discoloration (redness).
In addition, each type of disease has its own individual symptoms (location, formation of vesicles and nodules, the presence or absence of pain).
Only the specialist can know how lichen is transmitted , how to treat and prevent its occurrence. Doing self-treatment of the disease is not worth it.
Treatment
Treatment of fungal species depriving is not very difficult.
How to treat lichen in children with medicines:
- impact on the cause of the disease (fungus, virus) with the help of antifungal and antiviral drugs.
- effects on pain and itching with the help of antiallergic and corticosteroid drugs.
- prevention of the spread of the disease (isolation of the patient).
It is necessary to treat lichen in children adequately and carefully, improperly selected drugs can cause a protracted course of the disease, combing and infection.
How to treat lichen in children at home (additional measures):
- avoid taking a bath, just swim in the shower;
- wear clothes only from natural (natural) fabrics;
- do not walk in the sun;
- often change the baby’s underwear, and wash and iron it separately;
- apply disinfectant solutions for wet cleaning, washing toys and processing personal items of the baby.
Prevention
To prevent depriving a child, he needs to avoid the use of other people's hygiene items and contacts with homeless animals. Measures to strengthen immunity, as well as clothing made from natural fibers, will not interfere. If sick children appear in large children's groups, they should be isolated, since treatment of lichen without quarantine will not work.