Scrofula behind the ears: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

The scrofula behind the ears in adults (the photo is not attached for aesthetic reasons) is not any infectious disease, it is atopic dermatitis at the initial stage or an allergic reaction, the appearance of which is provoked by some specific factors. In addition, skin irritation, which occurs with sweating, can be called scrofula, and rashes mainly form on the skin behind the ears.

What causes the disease?

Some specific allergens can provoke such a skin disease, for example, wool or feathers of pets, dust, as well as any household chemicals or cosmetics. In children, the cause of scrofula behind the ears (the photo is not attached due to an unaesthetic appearance) may be, for example, the early introduction of sweets into the diet, as well as the use of harmful foods or citrus fruits. In very young children, scrofula can form due to severe sweating, which can be associated with excessive wrapping, as well as with a decrease in immunity. If we talk about children, then first of all the risk group includes weakened, premature babies, as well as those who are significantly behind in development or live in unsanitary conditions.

Symptoms

Currently, scrofula is commonly understood as an infectious disease of the skin localization caused by tubercle. It got its name due to the external similarity of the rash with a gold coating. Crusts have a yellowish tint. From a medical point of view, the disease resembles allergic dermatitis. The highest frequency of lesions in children under the age of 9-11 years (at risk - preschoolers and primary school children). Adults fall sick several times less.

The pathogenesis of scrofula includes the appearance of irregular rashes behind the auricles or in the area of ​​the hairline. Later, they turn into a noticeable plaque of golden color, accompanied by itching and peeling. Often, the child tears the affected area of ​​the skin before the blood. With improper treatment, injuries have the peculiarity of moving to the front side. The first signs have some similarities with lichen. As one of the tasks of dermatology is the differentiation of signs and clarification of the diagnosis. Symptoms of scrofula that distinguish it from other diseases include the preservation of hair on the head and the possible expansion of the lymph nodes.

Diagnostics

In order to find out the root cause, you need a visit to the doctor who will make an accurate diagnosis and indicate the correct medication. Diagnosis of scrofula behind the ears includes several stages that allow you to accurately confirm the doctor’s diagnosis and find out the cause of the appearance, since the scrofula is not an independent disease, but a sign of more serious pathological abnormalities in the body.

To determine pathologies, the doctor prescribes a number of laboratory tests:

1. A general blood test, which shows abnormalities in the composition of the blood, indicating the appearance of inflammatory and infectious processes in the body.
2. Immunological examination allows you to determine the response of the body to the course of the disease.
3. A general urine test also allows you to determine deviations in the composition of urea, indicating the onset of inflammation or the development of pathology.
4. Analysis of feces is necessary to study the state of microflora, since disturbances are also the cause of the development of various pathologies.
5. Ultrasound diagnosis of organs is necessary to detect damage to internal organs during the course of the disease.

Drug treatment

There are no special medicines for scrofula, drug therapy is aimed at preventing unpleasant symptoms, renewing, strengthening the child’s body, if necessary, the child is given medications that kill pathogenic bacteria. Preparations for the treatment of scrofula in children behind the ears, the photos of which are below, are used most often:

1. Local treatment. “Bepanten” (for infants) will undoubtedly help overcome overthrow, peeling, children older than that are advised to apply zinc ointment every day. The duration of the cure is determined by the attending doctor.
2. Internal treatment depends on the background of the disease. If the infection is accompanied by infection with staphylococcus, hay bacillus, then medicines are used in a wide range of effects.
3. In addition, enterosorbents are used, aimed at removing toxins from the child's body: Smecta, activated carbon, and others.
4. If there are difficulties with stool, intestinal tract dysbiosis is detected, the baby is prescribed probiotics or prebiotics that resume normal microflora.
5. If necessary, the lack of necessary trace elements and vitamins is compensated by taking multivitamins, which is prescribed only by a pediatrician.

Where to go?

Therapy of scrofula of absolutely all types must be carried out after consultation with a pediatrician, dermatologist, allergist. Detection of an allergen, a change in the menu, the exclusion of certain substances can help cure with allergic scrofula. The diet includes foods containing vitamins, trace elements, exclude allergen products.

Bepanten

The active element of Bepanten is dexpanthenol, it improves the metabolism of the skin, and promotes the rapid restoration of the skin. The medication is prescribed to relieve inflammation, peeling, scabies with scrofula (dermatitis). This medicine for scrofula behind the ears in adults and babies helps well. The ointment is rubbed a little into the skin behind the ears, on the face, in the perineum and in other affected areas. The operation is repeated once or twice a day.

Contraindication to the use of "Bepanten" is considered personal intolerance to the drug. In exceptional cases, when applying the cream, irritation and an allergic red rash (hives) appear. Overdose when using Bepanten does not appear, the time frame for the use of the drug is not defined.

Sudokrem

The drug has a complex composition. The main functioning element is zinc oxide. The cream softens the skin, removes irritation, dries and anesthetizes the affected areas of the skin. The medicine helps to restore the dermis, disinfects, protects against pathogenic microorganisms and fungi. The cream is gently rubbed until a thin film remains on the skin. It is allowed to apply up to 3-5 times a day. A contraindication to use is the personal intolerance of Sudocrem ingredients and purulent skin infections. With personal intolerance, irritation, a small rash and redness of the skin are likely.

Zinc ointment

The medication is used for absolutely all manifestations of scrofula. The functioning element of the ointment is zinc oxide. This element is considered an antiseptic, it “dries” the skin and exhibits an astringent effect. Zinc ointment reduces irritation and redness, weakens crusts in the affected areas. Before applying the substance, the skin is washed with clean water and dried. The medicine is applied in a thin layer on the affected areas. The procedure is repeated from 4 to 5-6 times a day. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. The maximum duration of zinc ointment therapy is 30 days. Contraindications to the use of the substance are signs of personal intolerance to the ointment - hyperemia, irritation and rash.

Other substances

Topikrem also has such an impact. The active elements of the drug are pyroctone olamine (octopyrox) and lactic acid. With intractable, serious forms of allergic diathesis, the doctor prescribes hormonal ointments to the patient. A good therapeutic result is provided by Prednisolone Ointment, Sinalar, Oxycort, and Lokacorten.

Alternative treatment

Like any other disease, scrofula requires timely and adequate treatment. Lesions of the skin (which, in fact, differs scrofula) can lead to severe and difficult to treat effects. For example, inflammation from the surface of the skin can go to the mucous membranes, provoke purulent inflammation of the middle ear, which in turn can cause inflammatory processes in the brain.

It must be said that the list of medications, their dosage and methods of treatment are determined solely by the attending physician. In addition to standard methods recognized by official medicine, there are a large number of folk remedies that can be used to consolidate the result of treatment.

Traditional medicine will tell you how to treat scrofula behind the ears of a child and an adult. The most popular and well-proven folk remedies include the following.

Decoctions

Folk decoctions of medicinal plants for oral administration:

• It relieves the inflammatory process due to the decoction of the coltsfoot plant contained in the tannins and carotenoids. To make it, you need to pour one tablespoon of dry crushed leaves with one glass of boiling water and insist for one hour, you need to take a spoon several times a day.
• Due to the high content of essential oils, a decoction of violet flowers has an intense anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. A decoction is prepared according to the standard scheme: 1 spoon is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted, take a spoon several times during the day. A similar effect also has an infusion of verbena officinalis.
• In order to relieve the symptoms of scrofula (itching, pain), as well as stop the inflammatory process, have a sedative effect on the body, it is good to use a decoction of viburnum twigs, which is rich in tannins and vitamins of groups C, B, E, P. Such a decoction is prepared as follows: a spoonful of finely chopped twigs is poured into a glass of hot water and boiled over low heat for half an hour. It is taken in a spoon once a day.
• The unique properties of rowan fruits are widely known. A decoction of them has the ability to heal and tighten affected areas of the skin, to fight microbes and pathogens of infections. And all this thanks to tannins, vitamins and flavonoids, which are part of mountain ash. To obtain a decoction, two tablespoons of fruit are taken, poured into a glass of water, boiled for about fifteen minutes, insisted for about two hours.

Lotions

In addition to the use of healing folk broths, lotions, rinsing and wiping with infusions made with the addition of medicinal plants are also recommended. How to cure scrofula behind the ears of adults (photo is not attached for aesthetic reasons)? In this case, help:

• As mentioned above, violet flowers have an anti-inflammatory effect, and when applied externally, it also has an antiseptic effect, which is very useful for scrofulous rashes behind the ears. Baths with the addition of a decoction have a general therapeutic effect in scrofula, but, given the localization behind the auricles, lotions and rinses can be used.
• Baths from young freshly prepared oak bark have a beneficial effect on inflamed skin.
• A decoction of chamomile pharmacy is widely known as an anti-inflammatory, sedative, antiseptic, analgesic.
• Decoction from calamus swamp endowed with bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory effects.

It should be noted that decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs for external use can be more concentrated than for internal use. Lotions and baths should be done with a decoction of room temperature.