Exudative diathesis in children: photo, causes, treatment, prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Special predisposition of the skin to rashes and inflammation in response to an irritating factor is called exudative diathesis. Usually the disease is manifested by redness and the appearance of diaper rash and persistent crusts. Basically, the problem affects children under one year old, but it can also appear at an older age. Of all the cases of diathesis, it is allergic dermatitis that is the most common and is most often diagnosed in infants. The prognosis is usually favorable, but it is necessary to exclude provoking factors.

Causes of pathology

Quite a few factors can trigger exudative diathesis. The causes that most often cause the problem lie in the consumption of potential allergens, contact with them, taking certain medications, and even infectious diseases. The following factors can contribute to the development of inflammation on the skin:

1. Unfavorable course of pregnancy - prolonged toxicosis,excessive use of medicines by the expectant mother, bad habits and malnutrition.
2. Features of the baby's body - malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, dysbacteriosis, skin tendency to dermatitis, features of the immune system, when it gives out an excessive reaction to any stimulus.
3. Incorrect baby care - the use of strong-smelling powders, shampoos and soaps. Choice of clothes for baby made of synthetic fabrics, inappropriate diapers.
4. Harmful environmental impact - polluted air, excessively chlorinated water, excess plant pollen in the air, the use of a variety of chemicals at home.

Of course, other factors can be the reasons for the development of pathology. But all their doctors are divided into four groups:

• respiratory (catarrhal);
• genetic;
• contact;
• food.

It is important to understand that exudative diathesis caused by these factors, in addition to genetic, is completely cured if all provoking circumstances are excluded.

Clinical component

Diathesis can be caused by completely different reasons. To identify the source of the problem, you need to contact a doctor who, based on a series of tests, will draw conclusions and prescribe treatment.

Exudative diathesis in infants is usually due to the activity of the immune system. Reacting to external stimuli, it gives out a hypersensitive reaction of the first type. After taking blood for analysis, the laboratory assistant can detect in its seruma large amount of immunoglobulin. The leukocyte formula also undergoes a change. Th2 activity is significantly increased, the content of basophils is increased. All this indicates a response when an allergen enters the body.

Immune cells begin to rapidly attack the allergen. In this case, the integuments of the skin are always involved. The process may entail other changes, most often they concern the vegetative system.

Symptoms of disease

Exudative diathesis in children almost always manifests itself in the same way. The main symptoms are as follows:

1. Diaper rash. There is increased sweating in the folds of the skin and on the folds. Moreover, such a manifestation is difficult to eliminate.
2. Seborrhea. Crusts and scales of a yellowish color appear on the baby's head. The fat content of the hairline increases.
3. Dryness and redness. Most often, the skin of the cheeks and buttocks suffers.
4. "Milk" crusts. As a result of prolonged redness, whitish crusts appear.
5. Itching. The most unpleasant phenomenon for both the child and the parents. Due to constant itching, the baby does not sleep well, constantly combing problem areas, thereby aggravating the situation and introducing a secondary infection.

Exudative diathesis requires immediate therapeutic treatment. In the absence of it, the signs of pathology intensify, an additional infection joins, wounds and pustules form on the skin. Gradually, immunity fails, the baby becomes susceptible to the mostminor illnesses. The respiratory tract is especially affected.

Diagnosis

It is important to understand that exudative diathesis can be provoked by different reasons, and it also manifests itself in different ways. Therefore, a competent examination of the baby by a specialist comes to the fore. Indeed, under the guise of diathesis, idiopathic problems of the immune system and infectious diseases can be hidden. The doctor must perform the following manipulations:

1. External examination and conversation with parents. It is necessary to find out the food habits of a nursing mother, her diet during pregnancy and the baby's menu if he is already receiving complementary foods.
2. A referral is given for a general and biochemical blood test. It is important to examine the leukocyte formula and immunoglobulins.
3. Urine is examined for pH and mineral content.
4. Stool test for eggworm is also mandatory. It is important to examine the sample for mucus and blood.

Only after all the necessary examinations and tests, the child is prescribed treatment.

Catarrhal form

Most often, after the examination, a child is diagnosed with exudative-catarrhal diathesis. Among all cases of dermatitis, it is he who is the leader. The catarrhal form is so widespread that parents simply refer to the disease as ordinary diathesis. The symptoms are almost similar to the manifestation of the exudative form, and children can get sick from birth.

Doctors agree that exudative catarrhal diathesis is caused by dietary errorsmother and subsequently the child himself, as well as the baby's stay in the cold. The disease can be mild, but the most severe consequences are often encountered, when the baby's skin is literally covered with crusts.

Often a mild form of the disease does not cause discomfort to children and only requires dietary adjustments. For others, the rash causes great discomfort, the baby constantly itches, an infection gets into the combed wounds, which leads to even more inflammation.

Troubleshooting

It is not always necessary to take pills if exudative catarrhal diathesis is detected. Treatment involves finding the cause and eliminating it. To do this, you should establish the right diet, review all hygiene products used for the baby and completely eliminate any contact with a potential allergen.

In the first place causing exudative-catarrhal diathesis in children are the following foods:

• meat broth;
• citrus fruits (lemons, oranges);
• honey;
• nuts;
• chocolate;
• cow's milk;
• chicken meat;
• canned food;
• eggs;
• sausages and smoked meats.

If there is a problem with rash, then you should not offer your baby fruits and vegetables that are not common in the region of residence. Also, you can not force-feed the baby. Such actions can cause disturbances in the digestive tract.

Remove the cause

Toeliminate the allergen, it is necessary to find out the cause of the development of diathesis. To do this, you should carefully look at the reaction of the baby and, when the first symptoms appear, pay attention to the place of their localization:

• limbs - it could be detergent or synthetic clothing;
• buttocks - wrong diaper or cream;
• whole body - indicates the wrong choice of shampoo, gel;
• cheeks - redness provokes food, contact with an allergen, water, respiratory manifestations.

Only by finding out the cause, you can remove its negative consequences. Often rashes in a baby are associated with animal hair. Therefore, they may have to be placed in other good hands. Do not forget that the daily routine is important for a speedy recovery, so it is necessary to establish a full-fledged daytime and nighttime sleep for the child.

Of course, the listed methods are non-specific. Sometimes it takes a long time to identify the cause. To speed up the process and help the baby, doctors often prescribe medication.

Medication

If exudative diathesis is diagnosed in children, treatment should be prescribed and monitored only by a doctor. The following scheme is mainly used:

1. For the speedy removal of allergens and recovery, it is necessary to improve the functioning of the digestive tract. Therefore, the baby is shown prebiotics.
2. Antihistamines may be recommended. However, in order not to disrupt the functioning of the immune system, they are prescribed last and under the supervision of a specialist.
3. Taking non-steroidalanti-inflammatory helps to get rid of skin erythema. However, the effect is not always pronounced, so a hormonal ointment may be required. Such treatment is carried out with caution, otherwise there may be problems with the endocrine system.
4. To relieve the itching that bothers the baby and speed up the process of skin regeneration, appropriate drugs are prescribed.
5. Often during the manifestation of diathesis, the baby does not sleep well, is naughty and refuses to eat. The appointment of sedatives can help to establish a daily regimen.
6. He althy exudative diathesis undermines the immune system. Treatment involves his support and the appointment of vitamin therapy. The main emphasis is on taking vitamins A, K, B.

Treatment usually lasts about a week, but may take longer. The prognosis depends on the severity, intensity of therapy and the implementation of all the recommendations of the doctor by the parents.

Consequences of untreated diathesis

Exudative diathesis delivers a lot of problems and worries. The photo shows how severe the consequences can be if treatment is not started on time. The prognosis is always favorable if the baby is examined, the cause is identified and a set of treatment procedures is prescribed, including also non-specific ones. As a rule, there are no consequences. Associated diseases recede.

If parents carelessly treat redness on the cheeks and do not attach importance to permanent crusts, then such behavior can lead to:

• severe itching, scratching and slippinginfections in wounds;
• permanently inflamed and non-healing abrasions, scratches and wounds;
• appearance of pustules;
• General decrease in immune defenses and permanent illnesses.

It is important to respond in time to any rash or redness. only in this case it is possible to avoid problems and prevent the development of catarrhal diathesis.

Preventive measures

Prevention of exudative-catarrhal diathesis is the most important measure in its prevention. The bottom line is the complete control of the nutrition of the mother and child, all household items. When compiling the menu, it is important to choose hypoallergenic food that does not contain preservatives or dyes. Natural and organic products come first.

It is worth paying close attention to the baby's clothes. It is recommended to use only natural fabric. Undershirts and diapers should be made of cotton. Synthetic material can provoke an allergic reaction, contribute to overheating of the child, which leads to excessive skin irritation.

Don't forget personal hygiene items and shower products. Shampoos are best used hypoallergenic, without fragrances, dyes and fragrances. It is better to refuse washing powder, because it is poorly rinsed out of the fabric. It is better to use a special baby gel.

When complementary foods are introduced, it is important to keep a food diary. Any new product is given first in a microdose and the baby's reaction is carefully monitored. Thus, the problem can be detected in time and eliminated.still in the bud.

It is not recommended to keep the baby in the sun for a long time in the summer. It is better to walk in the morning and in the evening. At the same time, cotton semi-overalls are considered the best clothes.

Only compliance with all preventive measures and timely treatment when a problem is detected guarantee a full recovery and exclude relapses. To avoid relapse, you must strictly follow all the advice of your doctor.

Phytotherapy

Phytotherapy is quite effective for diathesis. However, only a specialist can appoint it. For this, decoctions of succession, oregano, St. John's wort, yarrow, birch leaf or nettle are recommended. Moreover, you can prepare a drink consisting of several herbs. For cooking, a tablespoon of dried ingredients is usually taken, poured with a glass of boiling water and infused in a water bath for about half an hour. The infusion is offered to children in a teaspoon up to 4 times a day.

If the child suffers from edema, the doctor may recommend a collection of tricolor violet, chamomile flowers, horsetail or nettle leaves. The resulting infusion should be drunk for about a week in a teaspoon up to 8 times a day.

It is worth considering that such treatment should be carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor and under his supervision. The dosage will also be determined by a specialist. The use of any tinctures without his knowledge can lead to disastrous results. Herbal teas can be used to bathe babies.