Diathesis is a fairly common pathology that occurs in children of different ages. These are constant rashes, itching and a host of other unpleasant symptoms that can lead to more serious consequences. Many parents associate this disease with the food preferences of their children. Although other babies can safely eat anything, use any care products and still not experience any discomfort. And all because diathesis can have many causes, as well as ways to treat it.
Features of the disease
There is an opinion among the people that diathesis is a purely childhood pathology that occurs only among infants. But that's not the case at all. In fact, diathesis is often found in adults, and is practically no different from a childhood illness. Usually, adults do not even realize that this particular pathology worries them.
In fact, diathesis is a generalized name for a whole group of diseases that are characterized by a person's predisposition to infectious, allergic and inflammatory diseases. In other words, in such a statethe body reacts inappropriately to stimuli. It can be provoked by infectious diseases, unhe althy diet and wrong daily routine.
Diathesis is considered by many to be a skin disease due to the fact that it manifests itself primarily on the integument. Symptoms can literally cover any part of the body: face, legs, back and chest. But most often diathesis occurs on the hands. In the photo you can see how it looks in adults and children.
The pathology itself has an allergic origin, and despite its wide distribution among infants, it can occur in older children and adults. If this disease is not treated, then at an older age it can lead to the development of neurodermatitis, a more serious defect that is difficult to treat.
In childhood, insufficient development of the body is considered a key factor for the occurrence of diathesis. Over the years, the reasons for the appearance of such an allergy can be stress, weakened immunity, emotional overstrain and drug therapy using potent drugs.
Causes of disease
Diathesis in the hands of a child can occur for various reasons, but doctors identify several main factors that can trigger the mechanism for the development of the disease. It is these conditions that are considered the most common and occur most often.
Food allergy. This factor is leading among many other causes of diathesis. This reaction most often develops due to improper feeding of the baby and manifests itself inthe form of rashes on the hands and other areas of the skin. Very often, parents face a similar problem during the introduction of artificial complementary foods into the child's diet or with a sudden change in eating habits.
Doctors say that the cause of the development of diathesis on the hands in this case may be an imperfectly formed digestive system. After all, that is why the baby’s stomach is not able to normally perceive the products that get into it.
Doctors identify several foods that are considered allergens. These include:
- milk;
- citrus fruits;
- berries;
- chocolate;
- fish.
These products in the child's menu should be entered with extreme caution.
Contact diathesis on hands. This is the second most common form of the disease. This pathology occurs due to the contact of the child's skin with various detergents - allergens. That is why parents are advised to use special powders when washing children's clothes. In addition, babies under one year old should wear clothes made from natural, undyed fabrics. Such a solution can also contribute to the prevention of diathesis.
Respiratory factor. In a child, diathesis may appear due to the presence of animal hair, plant pollen, dust and other substances that can cause allergies in the air.
Causes of disease in adults
In mature people, diathesis occurs most often due to some problems in the immune system. This state is formed ongenetic level. In other words, the predisposition to diathesis is due to a hereditary factor.
In adults, this pathology often provokes the development of atopic dermatitis. This is an inflammatory defect of a chronic nature, covering the skin.
Patients with this disease are characterized by hypersensitivity to various allergens:
- drug;
- food;
- chemical;
- vegetable.
But if a person follows a he althy lifestyle, maintains his immunity and avoids regular contact with pathogens, diathesis on the hands can be almost invisible.
Disease types
There are several types of diathesis that are equally common in both children and adults:
- Allergic form. Manifested in a person's tendency to develop allergic reactions of a different nature. The body inadequately perceives a large number of various substances. The main signs are irritation on the skin of the hands, redness, severe peeling, itching, abnormal rashes. In addition, a person has a predisposition to pathologies of the mucous membranes.
- Lymphatic-hypoplastic variety. With such a disease, a person has a tendency to allergies and infectious diseases. Often there are problems with adenoids and tonsils. People with this diagnosis very often face colds and runny nose.
- Nervous-arthritic type. In this disease, oftenthere are problems with joints, metabolic processes in the body and the nervous system.
It is noteworthy that all forms of diathesis on the hands can appear both individually and together. If the pathology is combined, then the disease is much more severe and often becomes the cause of chronic diseases.
Symptoms of diathesis in the hands of a child
In the photo you can see the main symptom of the disease - rashes and redness on the hands, palms and elbows. It is worth saying that diathesis can appear not only on the hands, but most often covers this particular area.
Usually, the disease first makes itself felt in children under one year old. It has specific manifestations. In addition to rashes on the hands, the baby may have such problems:
- redness and profuse peeling of the cheeks;
- abundantly weeping patches of skin on the body;
- red spots on the skin;
- inflamed appearance of the mucous membranes, including the eyes;
- severe itching;
- dandruff.
What does disease look like? Visual manifestations of the disease you can see in the photo. Diathesis in the hands of a child is a common defect that has a number of features. So there are usually no problems with its identification.
It is noteworthy that parents cannot get rid of the resulting diaper rash, no matter what methods they use.
Among other things, diathesis in the hands of a child entails a lot of inconvenience for a small person. Doctors note a few more featuresof this disease:
- you can easily identify the relationship between rashes on the palms and the allergen that the baby touches;
- the itching is so severe that it prevents the child from sleeping properly, because of which he begins to act up;
- child sweats all the time for no apparent reason;
- babies begin to spit up regularly;
- appetite worsens.
Symptoms in adults
What does diathesis look like on hands? With this disease, minor rashes appear on the palms, hands and elbows in adults, dry, highly flaky places, itching, redness and slight swelling. During exacerbations, patients also experience bright red spots and blisters without fluid. Gradually, brown crusts appear instead of rashes.
Adults often complain of increased skin sensitivity. And sometimes, when touching the hands, patients feel soreness.
Among other things, adults have other problems:
- insomnia;
- appetite disorders;
- photophobia;
- excessive irritability, nervousness;
- burning in the eye area;
- strong tearing.
In children, symptoms of diathesis appear most often on the face and elbows, and in adults - on the neck, palms, hands and legs. Moreover, rashes in patients in adulthood are much more extensive. An allergen can cause skin dryness, excessive flaking, itching and pain.
Onhands may develop hives, inflamed blisters with fluid, pink-red papules, as well as large spots that resemble lichen. Diathesis on the hands of adults is often accompanied by migraines, fever, chills, nausea. Patients often complain of pain in the joints and abdomen.
Unlike infants, diathesis in the hands of adults manifests itself as a systemic lesion. It is simply pointless to treat only the skin with such a pathology.
Diagnosis
In fact, diathesis is not so difficult to detect. The main thing is to know its symptoms and recognize them in time. You can see exactly how the disease manifests itself in the photo.
Diathesis in the hands of adults and children is not an independent disease, but it can be accompanied by a large number of other pathologies. Babies with such a diagnosis must be under the supervision of endocrinologists, allergists, neurologists, pediatricians and dermatologists. Indeed, in the future, this disease can lead to a number of unpredictable problems in a fragile child's body.
The very diagnosis of diathesis in adults and infants is exactly the same:
- First, the doctor must examine the affected areas. If the child is being examined, then the parents should tell the pediatrician in detail about all changes in the diet and the environment. After all, perhaps the cause of the disease lies precisely in these factors.
- Then follows the collection of blood for biochemical and general analysis. During the research, the state of leukocytes, immunoglobulins and lymphocytes is studied.
- The next step is to give urine. This is necessary to identify blood cells, study its composition and alkaline state.
- Then you need to pass the feces. This is necessary to detect worms, bacteria, blood and mucus.
If the diathesis on the hands proceeds in a neglected form and is complicated by other diseases, the patient is additionally prescribed an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. In this case, the digestive tract and respiratory tract are examined for the presence of pathologies. In some cases, an x-ray is also required.
How to treat diathesis in the hands of a child
Therapy can be medication and without the use of drugs. Doctors believe that it is not worth loading a fragile children's body with chemicals without special need. So it is advisable to start the treatment of diathesis in the hands of a child without the use of medications. If such therapy is ineffective, you will need to see a doctor for prescription medications.
So where to start:
Diet correction. Foods that can act as allergens, such as citrus fruits, chocolate, smoked meats, nuts, mushrooms, and fish, should be excluded from the child's menu. Complementary foods should be introduced very carefully, before that it is advisable to consult a pediatrician. You should not experiment once again with the baby's diet, especially when it comes to the he alth of the baby
- Finding the source of the problem. If a rash appears on the child’s hands, the first step is to remember all the foods that he used. Allergen canturn out to be some new fruit for the baby or too large a portion of an already familiar treat. If you've already found the original problem and fixed it, all you have to do is wait. In about a month, the symptoms of diathesis will begin to disappear, and the rash will gradually disappear from the skin of the hands.
- The use of hypoallergenic products. Wash children's clothes only with special powders. Pay attention to the baby's diapers - they may not fit the baby either. How to find out? Compare the skin under a diaper to the skin on your back or stomach. If you find the same rashes on your buttocks as on your hands, you should take care of changing diapers. Pay attention to the nature of the rashes in case of illness, which are shown in the photo. Diathesis on the hands of a child may indicate the use of inappropriate products when washing children's gloves and other clothes.
- Providing baby with hypoallergenic toys and limiting contact with animals. Do not forget that diathesis on children's hands may indicate the development of an allergy to wool. So in some cases, limiting the child's contact with animals alone is enough to stop the progression of the disease. As for toys, it is advisable to buy products with a safe, non-toxic coating.
Drug therapy for children
If diathesis continues to progress, its course has dragged on or you cannot cope with the search for pathogens, you should resort to the help of special preparations. Properly selected medicines rather quickly alleviate the condition of the baby and contribute to the disappearance of the rash onhandles:
Restoration of intestinal microflora. When diathesis is found on the hands, doctors usually prescribe the baby products with bifidobacteria, eubiotics, probiotics, vitamins A, B, K and lipoic acid. Most often in such cases, "Lactobacterin" and "Lineks" are used
- Elimination of dandruff and diaper rash. To do this, the damaged areas of the baby's skin and folds are treated with salicylic ointment. It is recommended to apply petroleum jelly or vegetable oil on the scalp. Treatment sessions should be arranged after bathing.
- Elimination of rashes. How to smear diathesis in a child in his arms? For this, doctors most often advise products based on zinc oxide. Such preparations help eliminate scratches and accelerate regeneration. With pronounced rashes, hormonal ointments are used - Flucinar and Advantan. In addition, the pediatrician can prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and even antibacterial drugs, such as Naftaderm or Timogen, for the baby.
- Sedatives can be used to improve baby's sleep - Edas, Phenibut, Citral, Leovit.
- In advanced forms of diathesis, antihistamines are used - Suprastin, Fenistil, Tavegil, Pipolfen.
Adult Therapy
To deal with a problem such as diathesis, one shouldan allergist who will select the optimal treatment tactics. To do this, you must first pass a complete examination.
Treatment of diathesis in the hands of adults involves several stages:
- symptomatic therapy - the use of antihistamines to relieve allergy symptoms - these can be immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, ointments;
- elimination therapy - the gradual prevention of contact with the pathogen, for this doctors can use antigens;
- drug therapy;
- using folk remedies to speed up the healing process;
- correction diet.
Of course, the best result will bring complex treatment. The doctor will prescribe a therapeutic diet for the patient, prescribe nutritional supplements to normalize metabolism and select the best means to strengthen the immune system.
Often, the treatment of diathesis on the hands leads an adult to the psychotherapist's office. And all because this disease can be a consequence of emotional overstrain or severe stress. In this case, the patient needs the help of a specialist, otherwise getting rid of the pathology will not work. Usually, the doctor recommends proper rest and all kinds of entertainment for a speedy recovery.
Ointments
You can stop the external manifestations of diathesis on the hands with the help of special ointments. Gels and creams effectively eliminate itching, flaking and promote accelerated healing.
How to smear diathesis on hands:
- "Elidel", "Protopic" - should be applied to the skin 2 times a day until the rashes completely disappear.
- "Akriderm", "Fenistil" - effectively eliminate itching and allergies.
- "Diprosalik" - improves skin condition and promotes faster healing of wounds.
Together with external remedies for accelerated recovery, you can take pills. For example, doctors often prescribe "Zodak", "Zirtek", "Cetrin". Take one tablet at a time before bed. Just keep in mind that pregnant women should not use such drugs.
Diet correction
It is possible to achieve significant changes on the road to recovery with the help of a therapeutic diet, which is aimed at eliminating potential allergens from the menu. A minimum of such a diet should be followed for six months - during this time the blood will be completely cleansed of pathogens, and the immune system will be completely restored.
- Patients with diathesis on their hands should follow a few key rules.
- Completely eliminate citrus fruits, confectionery, orange and red vegetables from your daily menu.
- Give up currants, strawberries and strawberries.
- Supplement your diet with green fruits and vegetables, dietary meats, cereals cooked with water.
- Refrain from eating a variety of smoked meats, purchased sauces, sausages and all kinds ofspices.
And add white vegetables and fruits, low-calorie dairy products to the menu.
