Lichen in children is a fairly common problem. These are infectious skin diseases that result from infection by pathogenic fungi or viruses. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by various lesions of the skin, and the source of pathogens can be both a person and a sick animal.
Lichen in children and the causes of their occurrence
As already mentioned, the disease is the result of infection by fungi or viruses. However, not every infected child has symptoms, since here some factors of the external or internal environment are of great importance:
- First of all, the weakened immune system of the child should be attributed to risk factors.
- In addition, a fungal infection spreads much faster in wet, warm weather.
- The risk of developing the disease increases with various endocrine diseases, in particular diabetes mellitus. In addition, lichens in children often appear on the background of hormonal disruptions, for example, during puberty.
- Increased sweating can also be attributed to risk factors, since for normal development fungal organisms need not only heat, but also moisture. In addition, with increased sweat secretion, the pores on the skin expand, which makes the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the deeper layers of the skin easier.
Deprive children: photos and main symptoms
In fact, “lichen” is a term that combines many different skin diseases.
- Ringworm is a fungal disease that is transmitted by contact with a sick person or animal. The disease manifests itself with red round spots on the skin, which are often covered with thin crusts. The disease is accompanied by constant itching and burning.
- Multi-colored lichens in children are considered the most common problem. The pathogen here is fungal organisms, which are transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one both through direct contact and when sharing towels, toiletries, bedding, etc. In this case, spots of different colors appear on the skin - from light lemon to dark brown.
- Shingles is a disease caused by the herpes virus. This form is accompanied by the appearance on the skin of a characteristic herpetic rash in the form of small vesicles filled with liquid. As a rule, redness literally encircles the chest of the child. In this case, an increase in body temperature, the appearance of severe itching and general weakness are possible.
- Red flat lichen in a child is not so common. And to this day, the reason for the onset of the disease is not entirely clear - some experts believe that this is a viral disease, while others are inclined to believe that they are allergic or neurogenic.
Lichen in children: treatment
A child with a rash on the body should be immediately shown to a dermatologist - do not self-medicate, as some diseases can quickly become chronic. Treatment, of course, depends on the severity of the disease and the nature of the pathogen. With fungal lichen, various antifungal agents are used, including gels and ointments for treating affected skin areas. And with shingles, antiviral and immunomodulating drugs are used.