Lichen is a common disease in children. It is accompanied by redness, itching and burning. Lichen is a collective medical concept. It combines a number of fungal as well as viral diseases, which are manifested by similar symptoms. Features, varieties of depriving a child, as well as methods of treatment will be discussed below.
general description
Depriving a child is a common problem. This is a group of dermatological diseases of an infectious nature. There are many types of this ailment. Any person can become infected with it. However, children under 14 years old are at risk. Moreover, this ailment does not bypass even infants. If you leave the stroller unattended, the carrier of a similar infection may approach it. Such may be even the eldest child who communicates with a sick depriving peer.
Parents should pay attention to who their child is communicating with, whether he is touching street cats and dogs, etc. Dermatosis can manifest itself in different ways. However, in the vast majority of cases, a rash on the skin is observed, which can form a different pattern. Skin pigmentation may be impaired. In some cases, hair loss is observed. Burning, itching accompany most of these diseases.
What does lichen look like in children? We will talk about this a little lower. In any case, you should definitely contact your pediatrician. Self-medication can only exacerbate the problem. There are a lot of varieties. To choose the right tool, you will need to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. Only after this, the doctor prescribes the correct treatment. All of the following tips and treatment methods should be considered overview to have an idea of the approaches to treatment of lichen.
Panic when the symptoms of the disease appear. Lichen is well treatable. It is important to pay attention to it in time, to pass a timely examination. If parents have not encountered such a disease before, they can familiarize themselves with a number of preventive procedures that will prevent the development of the disease.
Causes of occurrence
There are many factors that can trigger the appearance of lichen in a child. The reasons are quite diverse. All parents should know them in order to prevent infection of their child with a similar infection. It is also worth considering that each type of dermatosis is caused by certain pathogens. Not always such a nuisance arises from the contact of a child with a street cat or dog. The list of reasons is extensive.
First of all, a similar problem occurs in children who do not follow the rules of personal hygiene. Parents should pay great attention to this issue. Also, lichen can be a consequence of a violation of the integrity of the skin (wounds, abrasions, scratches). If they appear on the skin, you should immediately treat cuts with an antiseptic.
Communication with sick people, contact with animals can also lead to the development of lichen. Some varieties of dermatoses appear due to increased sweating, weakened immunity. Disorders in the endocrine system also lead to similar phenomena. After the baby is ill with chickenpox, he can also easily become infected with lichen.
Depriving on a child’s hand, face or other parts of the body can be the result of an allergic reaction, neurosis. Acute intestinal, respiratory infections lead to a decrease in immunity. It can also lead to skin irritation. In some cases, there is a hereditary predisposition.
If timely treatment is not prescribed, it is possible to provoke the transition of the disease into a more severe form. Lichen can provoke the appearance of stomatitis, conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, meningitis, encephalitis, etc. Therefore, it is extremely important to start treatment in a timely manner. One of the most serious consequences in the presence of lichen in a very neglected form can be damage to the nervous system.
Ringworm, pink and multi-colored lichen
What does lichen look like in children? This disease can vary significantly in appearance. One of the most common types of such diseases are ringworm, pink, multi-colored lichen. They differ in pathogens, consequences and other characteristics.
Ringworm is the most common type of skin disease in babies. Foci appear on the head, shoulders and neck, as well as on the face. The causative agent is two types of fungus. Depending on which of them caused the disease, ringworm is called trichophytosis or microsporia. You can become infected with such an ailment by contact with sick people, animals, and also through personal hygiene products.
Multi-colored lichen is a non-communicable disease. It does not pose a health hazard. However, such spots look unaesthetic. This disease is caused by a yeast-like fungus. He always lives on the skin of any person. However, when favorable conditions arise for its development, the mycelium grows. Most often, this disease occurs after an infectious disease, with a violation of the endocrine system. Also, a similar disease is often found in residents of hot countries. It is necessary to wash and process the skin with special compounds more often. Multi-colored lichen spreads on the stomach, back, arms. On the lower body, it almost never occurs.
Another type of lichen in children is Giber disease. It is caused by the herpes virus after diseases that reduce immunity. This disease is better known as pink lichen. Such a disease is characteristic of children from 10 years old. Most often, pink lichen appears in autumn or spring. They can be infected by airborne droplets or by contact. It quickly spreads to the skin of the back, abdomen, sides, and also in the skin folds.
Red flat and shingles
How to cure lichen in a child? The answer to this question depends on what pathogen of dermatosis caused this ailment. One of the types of such diseases is shingles. Its causative agent is the same virus that leads to the appearance of chickenpox. This is the herpes virus. The difference lies in the mechanism of pathology. In some cases, it can be severe stress or a weakened immune system. If the child did not suffer from chickenpox, when communicating with a sick person, he will get sick with just this ailment. However, sometimes this virus appears as shingles.
Lichen planus is also one of the unpleasant diseases of this group. Scientists today have not determined which pathogen provokes it. There are two assumptions. The first says red lichen causes the virus, and the second is an allergic predisposition.
If the lichen on the child’s hand, as well as on the legs, back, stomach, is bright red, then it may turn out to be this kind of dermatosis. Also, rashes can appear on the mucous membranes. Often this ailment is a consequence of neurosis, intoxication of the body, the presence of a viral infection. Also, a decrease in immunity can cause the appearance of this type of lichen.
Symptomatology
How to cure lichen in a child? When asking this question to the pediatrician, you need to describe in detail the symptoms of the disease. Different types of lichen appear in different ways. If the pathogen is a fungus, rashes appear mainly in the warm period, and if viruses - in the winter.
Pink oval spots appeared on the skin? This is the main symptom of infectious dermatitis. This condition appears about a week after infection. Rash is accompanied by itching and burning, peeling. The temperature may rise, the lymph nodes increase.
Ringworm appears as oval or round spots. The skin appears crust, scales. On the head appears a lesion. If the spots are small, but multiple, flaky and itchy, this may be a symptom of multi-colored lichen. Maternal (central) plaque is sometimes seen. She is bigger than the rest.
Depriving a child may not only be itchy. Purulent complications are possible. This is pink lichen.
A rash in the form of flat nodes may be observed. This is a symptom of red lichen. The surface of the skin in the affected areas is shiny.
Herpes zoster is similar in symptoms to herpes. Itching, burning. The temperature may rise, the baby feels unwell. Rashes at first look like small pimples, which eventually merge into a single spot and become covered with a crust.
Disease onset
Parents need to know how lichen in children begins . It is especially difficult to determine the presence of this disease in infants. The sooner parents pay attention to the appearance of deviations, the easier and faster the treatment will be. Infants react to lichen with constant crying, loss of appetite. When bathing, dressing, you need to inspect the skin of the baby. If a rash, oval or round spots appear, you should immediately contact a pediatrician.
In children of preschool and school age, it is quite difficult to notice lichen at an early stage of development. Some babies realize that they have a rash and burning sensation. However, they hide it from adults. You need to explain to your child that with the appearance of any deviations in well-being, you need to tell your parents. After all, the disease itself will not pass. If you run it, the skin will hurt and itch, and the treatment will be long.
Parents should also periodically inspect the baby's skin. This should be done during picnics on the beach, a joint trip to the pool, etc. At the slightest suspicion of one of these diseases, you need to see a doctor.
Treatment recommendations
After the doctor makes a diagnosis, he will choose the optimal treatment regimen. Moreover, he will take into account not only the type of disease, but also the age of the patient, especially the development of the disease. Most often prescribed tablets and ointments for depriving children. The names of the most popular drugs are presented below.
The doctor chooses antifungal, antihistamine drugs. It also reduces the itching and burning sensation caused by the causative agent of dermatosis. In this case, parents must comply with a number of hygiene rules. This will avoid the further spread of the disease. It is very important that the child does not comb the affected areas of the skin, even if they itch very badly.
To speed up the healing process and reduce discomfort, you need to dress the child in clothes made from natural fabrics. Synthetics are not allowed in this case. You can also not wear the baby too warm. If he perspires, this may aggravate his condition. Therefore, you will also have to forget about outdoor games for a while. You can charge, but then immediately take a shower.
The room needs to be wet-cleaned every day. Particles of skin affected by a fungus or virus will constantly crumble to the floor, settling in different materials. To prevent re-infection, it is recommended to clean the room as often as possible. At the same time, one should not allow the room to be hot. The optimum temperature level in this case is 20 º. Humidity should be between 50-60%.
Personal things, baby's toys need to be washed often, treated with an antiseptic. A child can walk on the street only after the sun sets. Otherwise, ultraviolet light will affect the skin, intensifying itching, irritation. It is very important to avoid contact with other people. The child should not go to kindergarten or school until full recovery.
Medications
A suitable remedy for lichen in children should be chosen by a doctor. Depending on the type of disease, certain drugs are prescribed. If a child develops ringworm, the skin is treated with a solution of iodine (5%) or salicylic acid (3%). After that, ointment is applied to the skin. If the baby is more than 1 month old, Travogen can be used. If the child is already 2 years old, such remedies as Lamisil, Clotrimazole, Mycoseptin are suitable. Also, the doctor can prescribe ointments based on tar, salicyl, sulfur. If lichen has become chronic, Griseofulvin tablets are prescribed. A sore spot is covered with clothing (scarf, bandana, etc.).
When pink lichen appears, vegetable oils of rosehip, sea buckthorn or St. John's wort are used. As an antiseptic, Romazulan is used. Against an itch it is possible to apply Ketotifen or Zirtek from 6 months. If the inflammation and spread of lichen is significant, you need to use "Cortomycetin" or other similar compounds.
Shingles are treated with herpes ointments.
It can be "Acyclovir" or oxolin ointment. With extensive damage, prescribe antiviral drugs based on acyclovir in tablets. When pain appears, the child is given paracetamol, ibuprofen.
If the infection got into the wounds, a purulent inflammatory process occurred, antibiotics are prescribed. Physiotherapy sessions, electrophoresis can also be prescribed.
With the development of colored lichen, ointment "Exoderil" can be applied to clean skin in affected areas. If the lesion is extensive, the doctor may prescribe antifungal tablets. How many lichens are treated in a child? The answer to this question cannot be unequivocally given. It all depends on the type of ailment and the degree of its development.
Folk remedies
Treatment with folk remedies depriving a child is possible as a complement to complex treatment. Most often, birch tar is used for these purposes. You can also apply (after consulting a doctor) tincture of propolis, birch buds, burdock root. Actively apply recipes based on garlic, celandine. You can make a compress of pumpkin. They rub it on a grater, put gruel on lichen.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, prevention needs to be given great attention. The child needs to be explained that it is impossible to stroke a street animal. After a walk, be sure to wash your hands with soap before eating. A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition will help strengthen the baby's immunity. In this case, its resistance to various diseases is significantly increased.
Having considered the features and treatment methods of depriving a child, parents will be able to take timely action when symptoms of the disease appear. Prevention is an effective barrier to the development of the disease.