Skin diseases are often foundadults, and children. In children the most common is atopic dermatitis. As a rule, atopic dermatitis occurs in younger children. However, in the absence of timely adequate treatment, atopic dermatitis will then become aggravated, then calm down, letting you know about yourself all your life. Therefore, it is so important to recognize problems in time and to take all necessary measures to eliminate it. Atopic dermatitis in children requires immediate treatment. It is inadmissible at all to make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment for a crumb. The peculiarity of atopic dermatitis is that it can be masked for various other types of skin disease. So, for example, rashes of atopic dermatitis are sometimes similar to allergic skin reactions - "urticaria" or on fungal diseases - for example, on lichen. Incorrect treatment will not only not bring relief to the child, but will also aggravate the course of the disease. In children, the disease proceeds more easily than atopic dermatitis in adults, treatment is also more simple and effective. At occurrence of any skin diseases at the child parents should address for the help to the doctor - to the dermatologist, and at its absence - to the doctor - to the pediatrist. The doctor will conduct all necessary studies, including immunological tests - skin tests and studies. And on the basis of the results obtained, the doctor reliably diagnoses the disease and prescribes adequate effective treatment. Remember that if your child has atopic dermatitis, treatment with folk remedies is unacceptable. If a baby has atopic dermatitis, herbal treatment will only aggravate the situation.
Causes of atopic dermatitis
As is known, no disease occurs onempty space, without predisposition and provoking factors. The same applies to atopic dermatitis. The main causes of this disease are listed below:
- Hereditary factor
Atopic dermatitis is allergicskin disease. That is why the genetic predisposition of the child to allergic diseases can serve as a provoking factor for the development of atopic dermatitis. It is the increased production of those cells of the immune system that are responsible for the occurrence of allergic reactions transmitted to the child from one of the parents, very often becomes a fertile ground for the development of atopic dermatitis. Most often, when examining a sick child, doctors find out that in his family the next of kin (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, uncles and aunts, sisters and brothers) have various allergic diseases. And these diseases are not always skin - it can be allergic rhinitis (pollinosis), and bronchial asthma. If in your family one of the relatives suffers from allergic diseases, you need to be especially careful about the health of your children.
- Staphylococcus aureus
Not less often the strongest provoking factor,which causes the development of atopic dermatitis, is a staphylococcus aureus located on the skin of the child. In the process of its life, golden staphylococcus secretes various products of decay, which also provoke the development of various allergic reactions in the baby's body.
- Fungal diseases
About the same similar provokingthe appearance of allergic reactions has an effect and fungi, located on the skin and mucous membranes of the baby. For example, fungi of the genus Candida, the causative agent of seborrhea and some other fungi are often the true culprits for the development of severe allergic reactions in the baby.
- Complicated pregnancy course
Some complications that lie in wait for a pregnant womanwoman, can also become a provoking factor for the child, leading to the development of allergic reactions. Most often, such complications provoke a variety of viral diseases, such as acute respiratory viral infection and influenza, as well as taking certain pharmacological drugs.
- Violation of the correct infant feeding algorithm
Very, very often, parents by ignorancewith their own hands create a huge number of various factors provoking the development of allergic reactions. Most often these are banal errors in feeding infants. So, for example, later the first application of crumbs to the breast deprives him of such necessary immunoglobulins, which give powerful protection to the child and activate the normal work of his immune system. And these immunoglobulins are contained in the female colostrum only in the first few hours. Of course, then they will be replaced by other immunoglobulins, but one of the most important and necessary links for successful breastfeeding will be irretrievably lost. Also very often on various allergic reactions at the child, including on atopic dermatitis, those parents, whose children are on artificial feeding, complain. It is explained simply - even in the best mixture there are no substances that are found in breast milk and protect the child from the development of allergic reactions. It is also extremely important to consider when deciding whether to transfer a child to artificial feeding. If, for some reason, you can not continue breastfeeding, do not buy the mixture yourself, choosing it by experience. Such experiments can be carried out only under the supervision of the attending physician, which will help you to choose the most optimal mixture for your crumb, taking into account its needs and development features, thereby significantly reducing the risk of allergic reactions.
- Breastfeeding mommy diet
As everyone knows, a woman feeding herbreastfeeding, must follow a certain diet. All substances that enter the body of a woman together with the food penetrate into the breast milk. That is why the nursing mother should carefully monitor her diet. A woman should not eat fried, salty and spicy dishes, various semi-finished products, products containing dyes, carbonated drinks.
- Disturbance of complementary feeding
Sometimes at absolutely healthy before a crumb suddenlythere is a strong allergic reaction, most often cutaneous. And this happens, as a rule, during the introduction of food crumbs in the diet of lures. Most often this happens for a number of the following reasons. Too early introduction of complementary foods is fraught with the development of atopic dermatitis. This is because the digestive system of the child is not mature enough, and as a result, does not produce all the necessary enzymes that must split the lure. As a consequence, the child's immune system encounters unfamiliar complex substances and responds to the development of skin allergic reactions. Also very often the cause of development of allergic reactions becomes poor quality lure.
- Various diseases
Very often doctors note the presence of atopicdermatitis in those children who often get sick. Provoking the development of allergic reactions can become a factor such diseases as ARD, SARS, tonsillitis, runny nose, bronchitis. All these diseases place a certain strain on the immune system of the child. And in the event that this load is too great, a certain malfunction may arise in the work of the immune system and, as a consequence, the development of various allergic reactions, in particular, and a topical dermatitis.
Age of atopic dermatitis
Many parents are interested in the question ofwhat age is the most common disease with atopic dermatitis. As already mentioned above, this disease can occur at any age and even in adults. Although, of course, this is an exception to the rule rather than the rule. Most cases of true atopic dermatitis occur in children of younger age group - in newborns and infants, in some cases in children of the first five years of life. Atopic dermatitis has two periods of percolation - the initial and the secondary. Or, more simply, the acute stage of the disease and the stage of remission (disappearance of the main symptoms of the disease). As a rule, the acute stage arises unexpectedly, manifests itself rather roughly and with pronounced signs. After a while the acute stage passes, the pronounced symptoms of the disease disappear. However, the disease does not go completely, but only "hides" in the body, waiting for the next suitable case to activate. Typically, this second stage occurs if the parents did not notice the problem on time and did not seek medical help from a doctor. In the event that parents for some reason ignore atopic dermatitis in their child, they run the risk of encountering various complications, including the development of bronchial asthma in the child and even Quincke's edema, which is a serious threat not only to the baby's health, but even for his life. In addition, the disease will persecute the child for many years, then exacerbating, then calming down, thus bringing a lot of discomfort and discomfort to the child. That is why it is so important at the first symptoms of the disease to immediately seek medical help from qualified specialists.
Symptoms of atopic dermatitis
As mentioned above, atopicDermatitis is an extremely insidious disease that can be successfully masked for various other diseases. Symptoms of the disease may depend on the severity of atopic dermatitis, the causes of it, the age of the affected child, its living conditions, the nature of nutrition and the individual characteristics of the organism of each particular baby. However, of course, despite the variety of types of atopic dermatitis, there are still some common symptoms for all cases. It is on these grounds, in addition to laboratory studies, doctors diagnose atopic dermatitis. The following are the main signs, in the presence of which the baby can be suspected of atopic dermatitis:
- Itching of the skin of a sick child
Skin covers in the lesions atopicdermatitis itch. The child constantly tries to scratch them, often combing to the blood. This phenomenon is extremely undesirable, because if there is a violation of the integrity of the skin, there is a risk of attachment of a secondary bacterial infection. Simply put, combing the skin to the blood, the child can bring the infection into the wound, resulting in an inflammatory process and the wound will start to catch up. In addition, it must be remembered that the itching of the skin in itself accompanies a large number of diseases, and not only atopic dermatitis. That is why this symptom of atopic dermatitis is taken into account only in conjunction with other signs of the disease.
- Development of eczema
Often in case of a child's illnessAtopic dermatitis on the skin, he has the most real eczema. And not always the presence of eczema indicates that the disease is in neglected form. Sometimes eczema is the first sign of a beginning disease. Eczema called the inflammatory process of the skin, accompanied by such phenomena as reddening of the skin. Its swelling and thickening. Often, the skin appears bubbles filled with a clear liquid, which is very itchy. These bubbles have the feature of merging into one large spot and bursting. In their place there is a dying wound, which is called - wet eczema. In addition, on the skin, affected by atopic dermatitis, there may be cracks. This is due to the fact that the skin actively loses its moisture and is dried up. In addition, as already mentioned, the symptoms and manifestations of atopic dermatitis are significantly different in children of different ages. It is also very important to know the parents in order to find the problem in time and seek medical help. Below, the symptoms of atopic dermatitis are described in detail in two main age categories of children:
- Atopic dermatitis in children under the age of one year
The course of atopic dermatitis in the smallestCrumb has its own characteristics. In particular, this refers to the location of inflamed skin (eczema). Most often, eczema is located on the face of a crumb - on his cheeks and forehead, on the neck, especially in its folds. If the treatment of the disease is not started in time, the skin lesions increase, eczema continues to develop further - appears on the elbows, in the armpits, on the tummy, under the knees. Eczema in children looks standard - redness and swelling of the skin, the appearance of transparent bubbles with liquid inside, their union and the emergence of a wet wound after a breakthrough. As the wound heals, the wounds are covered with yellow crusts, which fall off independently. In no case should you try to tear off these crusts yourself - in this case, scar and scars may remain on the skin. Take care that the child does not comb them. In order that the child does not tear off the crusts at night, in a dream, pediatricians recommend that parents wear cotton gloves at night.
- Atopic dermatitis in children 3 to 5 years old
In children older than atopic dermatitis is manifesteda little differently. Of course, all the main symptoms remain the same - the appearance of eczema, itching of the skin, their redness. However, the localization of the lesions of the skin changes a little. For example, in children, eczema often affects the elbows and knees, and for older children - hands and feet. In addition, older children are more likely to experience cracking of the skin due to their dehydration than damp eczema. Very often in children with atopic dermatitis, the skin of the head's scalp is affected - yellowish crusts appear on the skin, reminiscent of the appearance of scabs. The child regularly complains of a strong sensation of itching of the scalp. Parents, trying to ease the condition of their child, try to get rid of these crusts on the head of the baby by all the truths and crooks. In a course there are all improvised means - vegetable oil, combing of crusts by a crest. However, all these measures will not bring the kid absolutely no relief, because they are aimed at eliminating the effect of the disease, but not on its cause. The head of the crumbles is scratched not because of the presence of crusts, but because of atopic dermatitis, which leads to their appearance.
- Symptoms of atopic dermatitis in school children
As mentioned above, atopic dermatitismost often children of young age. However, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, if in childhood the disease was ignored and spilled into a chronic form. At school children atopic dermatitis proceeds differently, than at small children. Skin covers are most often affected on the palms, soles and elbows and knee joints. The appearance of wet eczema in children of school age is a rarity. As a rule, the skin in the lesions is very thickened, coarsening and begins to be strongly flaky. Affected skin sites acquire either a dark red, or generally a burgundy shade. Spots tend to merge with each other, covering a significant area of skin. In the chronic course of atopic dermatitis, the seasonality of the exacerbation of the disease is noted. As a rule, the greatest exacerbation occurs in the cold season, especially in winter. In summer, most often all external manifestations of atopic dermatitis disappear without a trace, unless any strongest allergen triggers an exacerbation of the disease. Doctors explain this seasonality of the disease with various climatic factors, such as air temperature, humidity and others.
- Symptoms of atopic dermatitis in adolescents
If the disease is not cured and continuesdevelop, in adolescents, the appearance of atopic dermatitis is also slightly modified. Again, wet eczema returns, however, and maroon scaly spots also remain in place. Localized lesions of the skin in the following places - the face (cheeks and forehead), the back surface of the neck (especially in girls), the shoulder girdle, back, groin and knees, feet and hands. In addition to the physical discomfort of the skin lesions in atopic dermatitis, the child is also given psychological discomfort. In adolescence, children become extremely picky and demanding in their appearance, often seeing problems where they are not at all. What can I say about teenagers suffering from atopic dermatitis? Perhaps even, parents will have to seek help from a child psychologist. In no case can not brush aside the fears of a teenager - after all, you do not want your son or daughter to suffer an inferiority complex all his life?
Factors provoking an exacerbation of chronic atopic dermatitis
We have already talked about what is the causedevelopment of primary atopic dermatitis and how it is important to seek medical help in a timely manner and begin the necessary treatment for the child. These measures will help prevent the overflow of atopic dermatitis into a chronic form. If, for some reason, it does happen, it is extremely important to lead a correct lifestyle and avoid those factors that may cause an exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. After all, dermatitis in the chronic is biphasic - the stage of exacerbation and the stage of remission. And if the sick person will observe precautionary measures, the disease can proceed asymptomatically, without causing discomfort, for many years.
- Violation of the therapeutic and prophylactic diet
For a person suffering from atopic dermatitis,a therapeutic and preventive diet is extremely important. As already mentioned above, atopic dermatitis is nothing but an allergic disease. Accordingly, allergens contained in food can provoke its aggravation. That is why so much attention should be paid to the diet of a child suffering from atopic dermatitis. From the diet of the child, it is necessary to exclude all foods that can provoke allergies - citrus fruits, strawberries, cherries, honey, chicken, products containing dyes and flavors. Of course, sometimes it is very difficult for parents to resist and not succumb to the baby's requests to buy chips or the same "chupa-chups". However, remember that every minute weakness will turn out for you and your baby a lot of unpleasant minutes. Try to learn to find an alternative - asks the child for chips? Suggest him to try making chips at home, frying finely chopped potato slices until golden. The child asks for a chocolate bar? Offer him a nice tasty apple or banana. And most importantly - be consistent. If you ban once, do not do it in another. Thus, you introduce crumbs into confusion, and he will constantly try you for "strength" - but what if this time you surrender and get him a prohibited delicacy? Many parents worry that their child will feel deprived if he does not want to buy harmful, but such favorite treats. However, in fact, this is not so. All the kids adapt very quickly to the new for them and forget the past. Therefore, if you are persistent and consistent, your baby will very soon forget about forbidden foods.
- Direct exposure to skin irritants
Often an exacerbation of atopic dermatitisis caused by direct exposure to the skin. For example, an attack can trigger things from woolen yarn or rough fabric, with prolonged exposure to skin. Also, cases of exacerbation of atopic dermatitis as a result of exposure to the skin of chemicals - skin care products for powders, creams, detergents - shampoos, gels, soaps and detergents are not uncommon. This should also be taken into account if the family has a child suffering from atopic dermatitis. Children's cosmetics should be selected from the hypoallergenic series, and even reduce the amount to a possible minimum. Very carefully it is necessary to approach the issue of choosing a detergent powder - it must also be hypoallergenic, have a certificate of conformity. The most optimal will be a liquid detergent powder - when washing with its use, situations in which the dissolved crystals of the powder remain in the fibers of the tissue are excluded. By the way, special attention should be paid to rinsing the linen - carefully make sure that there is no powder left on the clothes. Things are the smallest kids, it makes sense to wash with soap.
- Infections of the skin
Presence on the skin of a sick child suchpathogens like streptodermia, Staphylococcus aureus can also provoke not only the primary disease with atopic dermatitis, but also the aggravation of its chronic form. To ease the condition of a sick person, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.
- Sharp climate change
Change of climate often provokes the strongestexacerbation of chronic dermatitis. Especially often this happens when moving from a cold to a hot climate. Going on vacation with a child suffering from atopic dermatitis, parents should have this in mind and start preventive treatment in time. Folk methods of treating atopic dermatitis advise parents to take the child to the south - but this will only exacerbate the situation.
- Hormonal reorganization of the body
Very often atopic dermatitis, peacefully dozingin the body of the child for many years, at an early age makes itself felt. Doctors explain this by nothing more than hormonal reorganization in the child's body.
Possible complications of atopic dermatitis
As already mentioned, atopic dermatitisnegatively affects the work of the immune system of the child - the protective function of the body is significantly reduced. All this leads to the fact that the course of atopic dermatitis is significantly complicated. Atopic dermatitis leads to the following series of complications. Due to the fact that atopic dermatitis is affected by the skin, the protective function of the skin is greatly weakened. As a result, the child is not uncommon with accompanying skin diseases, such as furunculosis, candidiasis (thrush of the mouth), herpes rash. Also very often in children suffering from atopic dermatitis, join other diseases of allergic origin - seasonal pollinosis, allergic urticaria, food and drug allergies, and even bronchial asthma. In addition, in some cases, the neglected form of atopic dermatitis leads to very extensive lesions of the skin - the so-called generalized form of atopic dermatitis. The area of skin lesions can reach 70% of the total area of the skin. This form of atopic dermatitis is almost always accompanied by purulent infections.
Treatment of atopic dermatitis
Treatment of atopic dermatitis should not beis aimed only at eliminating skin manifestations of the disease. The scheme "atopic dermatitis - treatment ointment" is hopelessly outdated. To successfully get rid of it, treatment should be comprehensive. And remember that the treatment should appoint only a qualified doctor - dermatologist or pediatrician. The first thing to do is find and eliminate the allergen, which became the cause of atopic dermatitis. For this, a sick child should be on the strictest diet until the disappearance of atopic dermatitis. After this, it is necessary to start introducing various foods into the baby's diet, but not more than once in three days. Observing the state of the child, in this way, you can identify the allergen, which in the future and must be permanently excluded from the baby's nutrition. Effective treatment of atopic dermatitis without a diet is simply impossible. Simultaneously with the diet, it is necessary to start taking measures aimed at strengthening the immune system of the child. How to properly strengthen the immunity of the child, you will tell the doctor - an immunologist or a pediatrician. In no case is it inadmissible to buy immunomodulating drugs on your own - this can lead to a deterioration in the child's condition. Pay attention to the care of the child. It should be especially careful - it is necessary to closely monitor the cleanliness of the baby's skin, while bathing and changing clothes. Sweat, urine - all this can become the strongest factor provoking the development of atopic dermatitis. Also for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, various medications are used that are designed to reduce inflammation of the skin, prevent purulent skin diseases. The choice of medicines is extremely high, but very many of them contain hormones, so their use in children is highly undesirable. That is why prescribing drugs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis should only be a doctor. Even the treatment of atopic dermatitis with homeopathy should be carried out only under the supervision of doctors. We advise you to read:
