Lichen in infants is quite common. The initial signs of pathology in infancy are usually mild. The disease begins with the appearance of a small spot on the skin, which may be subtle. However, subsequently the rash spreads to a large area of the epidermis. This is accompanied by itching and flaking. What causes ringworm in babies? And how to get rid of the rash? We will answer these questions in the article.
Forms of pathology
Lichen is the collective name for a group of infectious diseases that are accompanied by the appearance of itchy and flaky spots on the skin. Different types of this disease differ in etiology. Signs and treatment of lichen in infants completely depend on the form of pathology.
In dermatology, the following types of this disease are distinguished:
- ringworm (microsporia, trichophytosis);
- Pityriasis rosea (Giber's disease);
- pityria (colorful)lichen.
Next, we will consider in detail the origin, symptoms and methods of treatment of various forms of pathology.
Reasons
Ringworm in infants is an infectious disease. It is caused by the fungus Microsporium or Trichophytia. The causative agents of pathology are transmitted in the following ways:
- From animals to humans. Ringworm affects cats and dogs, most often stray. A child can become infected by contact with the skin of the animal's hair.
- From a sick person to a he althy one. The source of infection is the hair and desquamated scales of the epidermis of the patient.
- Through everyday things. You can become infected through household items on which skin particles and hair of an infected person accumulate, as well as the hair of sick animals. Fungi can live in the external environment for quite a long time.
Pityriasis rosea in infants is a rather rare disease. It is more common in children 2 to 12 years of age. However, there are cases of Zhiber's disease in infants. This pathology is an infectious-allergic process. Its exact causes are unknown. There is an assumption that the causative agent of this form of lichen is one of the strains of the herpes virus.
However, a viral infection is only a trigger mechanism for Gibert's disease. All manifestations of this pathology are an allergic reaction to the waste products of microorganisms. Most often, children with weakened immune systems get sick. Provoke Gibert's disease in a childunder 1 year old may the following factors
- hypothermia;
- past colds and childhood infections;
- switching from breastfeeding to formula;
- administering vaccines;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- start complementary foods;
- insect bites.
Pityriasis rosea is not a contagious disease and it is impossible to get infected from a sick person.
Pityriasis versicolor is an infectious pathology of a fungal nature. The causative agent of the disease is an opportunistic microorganism of the genus Pityrosporum. It is found on the skin of many people, but causes pathological manifestations only when immunity falls. The following factors contribute to the reproduction of the fungus:
- child's stay in a humid and hot climate;
- use of underwear and diapers made of synthetic fabrics;
- uncontrolled treatment of the baby with antibiotics and vitamins;
- hereditary predisposition.
This form of lichen is rarely transmitted from person to person. However, the possibility of infection cannot be completely ruled out. Infection usually occurs through very long and close contact with the sick.
Ringworm
The incubation period for ringworm in infants is 3 to 5 days if the baby has contracted the fungus from an animal. If the infection occurred through household contact with a sick person, then the first signs of pathology appear after 4-6 weeks.
This type of fungal infection affects the scalp. After incubationperiod, the child has the following signs of pathology:
- A spot with clear boundaries appears on the scalp. It has a round or oval shape and looks somewhat swollen. Such a spot is called a maternal plaque. Subsequently, new rashes spread from it on the skin.
- At first, the baby is worried about a little itching in the area of the mother's plaque. Then the stain begins to peel off and skin irritation intensifies. The rash spreads all over the scalp.
- Mushroom spores infect hair follicles. The baby's hair begins to break, they look as if trimmed. The name of the disease is associated with this symptom - "ringworm". The fungus can also spread to the eyebrow and eyelash hairs.
In infants, the disease is often accompanied by fever and swollen lymph nodes. These are systemic signs of lichen in infants. In the photo below you can see the characteristic symptoms of the pathology.
Giber's disease
Rashes with pink lichen are most often localized in the area of the shoulders, abdomen, groin, as well as on the arms and legs. The following characteristic signs of Zhiber's disease can be noted:
- First, an edematous spot (maternal plaque) appears on the skin. It is pink in color and most often forms on the abdomen or between the shoulder blades. Subsequently, new smaller lesions appear around the maternal plaque.
- Then yellowish or brown scales appear in the center of the spot. In the middle of the rash there is a strong peelingleather.
- The flaky area in the center of the spot sinks over time and forms a dent surrounded by a red roller. Doctors call this rash ring-shaped.
- Over time, the scales fall off and the skin color evens out.
Itching occurs in 50% of children. Pink lichen does not cause a deterioration in the well-being of the baby. However, this pathology can be exacerbated after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Often there were cases when the child underwent a course of treatment, and the rash completely disappeared. But after being in the sun, there was a relapse of pink lichen in the baby. In the photo below you can see ring-shaped skin rashes with Gibert's disease.
Pityriasis versicolor
When pityriasis versicolor, the maternal plaque looks like a yellowish-pink spot. The rash forms around the hair follicle on the body. There is no swelling of the skin in the affected area. The spots most often appear on the chest and back. In rare cases, the rash is localized on the lower extremities, scalp and buttocks. Small rashes often merge into one large spot.
Pityriasis versicolor in infants is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The color of pink spots changes as the pathology develops. They first turn red, and then dark brown. Then the color of the rash becomes brown. Therefore, pityriasis versicolor is often called multi-colored.
- The fungus destroys the stratum corneum of the skin. Therefore, the spots peel off. When scraping from rashes, scales resembling bran or shavings are easily separated.
- There is slight itching in the area of the rash.
After recovery, the rash disappears. However, the places where the spots used to be located remain depigmented for a long time. These areas do not tan when exposed to ultraviolet light. This symptom is due to the fact that the fungus disrupts the work of melanocytes - skin cells responsible for the pigmentation of the epidermis.
This disease in its manifestations may resemble vitiligo or psoriasis. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a differential diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor in infants. In the photo you can see skin pigmentation disorders after the pathology.
Diagnosis
If the baby has a spot on the skin, then it is necessary to show the child to a pediatric dermatologist as soon as possible. During the initial visit, the doctor examines the baby's skin using a Wood's lamp. In the light of the device, the affected areas turn greenish.
Rashes in various forms of lichen can be similar to manifestations of other diseases. In order to differentiate the pathology, scales are scraped from the spot. The resulting material is sent to the laboratory for microscopy. The analysis helps to determine the type of causative agent of pathology and the form of lichen.
Timely detection of pathological signs and treatment of lichen in infants depends on the correct differential diagnosis. In the photo below you can see how a dermatologist examines a child's skin.
As an additional diagnostic methoduse a test with iodine. The doctor lubricates flaky spots with iodine solution. In the affected areas, there is increased friability of the skin, and the epidermis absorbs the drug well. Therefore, the spots are painted in a more intense color than he althy areas.
Ringworm treatment methods
Treatment for lichen in infants is to prescribe antifungal agents. Often, parents treat spots on the child's head with iodine or brilliant green. Dermatologists categorically do not recommend the use of alcohol solutions of antiseptics. This can lead to overdrying of the affected epidermis.
Antifungal drugs for babies are prescribed only in the form of ointments. The use of oral antimycotics is prohibited. Most often, creams based on clotrimazole are used. Washing your hair with Nizoral shampoo is also shown, it contains an antifungal substance - ketoconazole.
Additionally, ointments based on birch tar with sulfur are prescribed. They have bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.
Before starting therapy, the hair from the head of the child must be completely removed. After recovery, the baby grows new hair. On average, the course of treatment can take about 1 - 2 months. However, topical products must be applied for an additional 14 days after the spots disappear.
Treatment of Zhiber's disease
Pityriasis rosea disappears on its own within 1 to 2 months. There are no repeated cases of pathology, since the disease leaves a strong immunity. During the period of rashes, the baby needskeep away from sunlight.
The following groups of drugs are used as symptomatic therapy:
- Antihistamines. Infants are most often prescribed the drug "Fenistil" in the form of drops (for oral administration) and gel (for external use).
- Antiviral agents. Rashes are recommended to be treated with Acyclovir ointment.
- Vitamins. These remedies help to strengthen the immune system. In infancy, the reception of the multivitamin complex "Multi-Tabs Baby" is indicated. This remedy is available as drops and can be given to a child from birth.
How to treat versicolor versicolor?
When treating this disease in infants, doctors use local antifungal ointments:
- "Ketoconazole";
- "Bifonazole".
Pustules and inflammation may appear on the baby's skin. This usually happens when bacteria join a fungal infection. In such cases, it is necessary to use not only antimycotic agents, but also ointments with zinc or salicylic acid.
The course of treatment takes about a week. After the disappearance of the rashes, the preparations are applied to the skin for another 3 days.
This disease does not pose a great danger to the body. Rashes disappear without a trace after a course of treatment for lichen in infants. In the photo below you can see the treatment of the baby's skin with antifungal agents.
Carebaby
During the treatment of lichen skin lesions, the following rules must be followed:
- During the period of rashes, the baby should not be bathed. Exposure to water increases itching and flaking. You can only wipe the baby's skin with a damp towel. In this case, you should try not to touch the stains.
- All objects that the child comes into contact with must be disinfected.
- Baby clothes should be washed as often as possible in hot water with a pre-soak.
- Stay away from synthetics in favor of cotton and linen.
During the illness of the child, it is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning in the room. It is also necessary to abandon rugs and soft toys, as infected particles of the epidermis and hair can accumulate on such things.
Treatment reviews
Parents of babies leave positive feedback on the use of Nizoral shampoo. This tool is easy to use and allows you to quickly get rid of ringworm. After the therapy, the baby grows new he althy hair. However, it is very important to complete the course of treatment and use a medicated shampoo for another 2 weeks after the stains disappear.
Parents also speak positively about the combination therapy with ointments "Acyclovir" and "Fenistil" for pink lichen. This combination of drugs allows you to influence both the infectious and allergic nature of the pathology. After applying the ointments, there is a significant blanching of the spots anddisappearance of itching. However, during treatment it is very important to protect the baby from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, otherwise the rash may return.
Prevention
The following measures will help to avoid the appearance of lichen rashes in the baby:
- It is necessary to exclude the contact of the child with stray animals.
- Pets should be vaccinated against ringworm.
- You need to protect the baby from hypothermia. It is also necessary to prevent the child from staying in humid and warm conditions for a long time.
- It is recommended to use clothes and diapers made from natural fabrics.
- When feeding your baby with ready-made mixtures, you should pay attention to their composition and hypoallergenicity.
- In case of insect bites, immediately treat the affected area with Fenistil gel. Otherwise, an allergic reaction can trigger the development of pink lichen.
- Antibiotics can be given to a baby only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. Their uncontrolled intake adversely affects the immune system.
These tips will help prevent fungal skin diseases in children.
