Diseases with rash on the body. Childhood skin diseases with rash

From the point of view of immunology, the invasion of one or more antigens stimulates defense mechanisms, i.e., the production of antibodies, which makes it possible to neutralize a foreign substance (this same antigen), and therefore promote recovery (see "Vaccinations -" for "and" against "" ).

The antibody forms with the antigen what is called the antigen-antibody complex, which, having found a place for itself on the skin, is fixed there, provoking the occurrence of inflammatory reactions. They can be expressed both in the form of skin lesions, which include both specks and nodules (papules), and in the form of vesicles (this depends on what the child is ill with).

Seeing any rash, you should first of all make sure that this is not a symptom of one of the so-called childhood diseases (see "Children's diseases"). Other viral diseases (except for measles, rubella, etc.) mainly manifest themselves only as a sharp increase in temperature. And in this case, the diagnosis can only be made after the doctor observes how the disease progresses for several days. If the temperature does not decrease for a long time, not just a one-time consultation with a pediatrician is necessary, but a constant connection with him.

Roseola (small sudden onset exanthema) occurs in children aged 16-18 months and begins with a high temperature that lasts for 3 days without any concomitant symptoms. No body functions are disturbed, tests are normal. And only a measles-type rash on the fourth day of illness, when the temperature finally drops, indicates that recovery is coming.

During transitional periods (in autumn, but mainly in spring), viral infections can manifest themselves, proceeding according to the type caused by enterovirus. What are the main signs of such a disease? The child's temperature rises and at the same time there is an indigestion of moderate severity. On the 3-4th day after that, a scattered small rash appears on the skin - all over the body, which indicates recovery. When examining a child, the pediatrician will undoubtedly find residual phenomena of pharyngitis - a sign that the throat has served as the "entrance gate" for the infection.

The hand-foot-mouth syndrome, which owes its origin to the Coxsackie virus, often manifests itself in babies aged about a year, moreover, in the summer. It is expressed in an increase in temperature and a nodular rash on the palms, soles and palate. Hence its strange name (the “address” where the virus “breaks out” is simply indicated).

Shingles, caused by the herpes virus, is extremely rare in young children. But nevertheless, they also happen to observe bubbles running in a chain along one side - as a rule, from the armpit to the end of the rib (front or back). Shingles in children is usually much less painful than in adults.

Herpetic stomatitis can reveal itself with very characteristic signs (see "Stomatitis"), but the fact that the vesicles do not always appear clearly enough at the very beginning of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose the disease. Most often, the disease manifests itself precisely at the time of the rash of vesicles or sores. Small round or oval sores with a grayish coating, single or multiple, are scattered over the entire surface of the oral mucosa. If the viral infection is severe, strong antiherpetic drugs such as acyclovir or zovirax should be considered.

Infectious mononucleosis is not so rare in children and is manifested not only by acute sore throat (the tonsils are inflamed, covered with a dirty white coating, which makes you first suspect a sore throat), not only by an increase and thickening of the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes (which just denies the diagnosis of angina ), not only high fever and pronounced weakness, but also rashes in the form of small spots all over the body. Sometimes on examination, a greatly enlarged spleen is also found.

This is one of the viral diseases, the diagnosis of which requires mandatory confirmation by a blood test (and not only clinical, but also two specific ones). Most often, the disease is not too severe, but the child after it still feels weak for a long time (this condition can last several weeks). Mononucleosis cannot be treated with antibiotics; in severe cases (and they are, fortunately, rare), hormonal drugs are used.

A viral infection does not require antibiotic treatment, unlike a bacterial one, and the outcome of the disease is usually more favorable.

As for how contagious viral diseases are, accompanied by skin rashes, enteroviruses are considered practically safe in this regard (but they sometimes cause epidemics in children's groups). The most dangerous are singing with a bubble rash - chicken pox, herpes, shingles. Other diseases (scarlet fever, mononucleosis, measles, rubella) are not easily transmitted from sick children to healthy ones.

What to Avoid...

To believe that in the case when a doctor diagnoses a viral disease, he “does not understand” what is really happening with the child.

It is clear that in most cases, without additional tests, it is difficult to understand which virus is responsible for the occurrence of a particular disease. Of course, you can demand that the doctor prescribe tests for the child. But is it worth asking? In order to detect specific antibodies, blood should be taken from the child twice, with an interval of 2 weeks. Only under this condition will it be possible to see whether the number of antibodies in the body increases, that is, whether its ability to fight, say, an enterovirus increases. Why expose the baby to painful procedures when it is known that 2-3 weeks after recovery - and it will happen after just a few days! - there will be no trace of the infection (test results can be obtained much later!)?

Consider that any rash on the skin is a symptom of one of the childhood diseases.
Only a doctor can make a diagnosis! Some of the childhood diseases require particularly accurate diagnosis, because they can be dangerous for the people around the child, and therefore, all necessary measures must be taken in time.

Kiss the baby if you have a “fever” on your lip (after all, this is a manifestation of a viral disease - herpes).

You can easily pass on the infection, and the child can develop extremely painful and relatively severe herpetic stomatitis. It is especially important to take precautions when herpes occurs in a mother-to-be or in a woman who has just given birth.

In addition to roseola, which parents begin to recognize quite quickly, many viral diseases are accompanied by skin rashes. Based on external manifestations, mothers and fathers often confuse them with childhood diseases, and only a doctor is able to clarify the diagnosis (and sometimes it is not so easy for him to do this).

Rash is a very broad medical term. It can vary greatly in appearance, and has many potential causes. What can skin rashes indicate? What signs should you look out for if you have a rash? Is it worth taking the rash seriously and what diseases can cause the rash? More on this in our article.

Causes of the rash

contact dermatitis

One of the most common causes of a rash is contact dermatitis. It occurs as a reaction to touch. The skin may become red and inflamed, and the rash becomes moist over time. Common triggers are:

Dyes in clothes
cosmetic products
Poisonous plants such as poison ivy and sumac
Chemicals such as latex or rubber

Medications

Medications can also cause a rash. In addition, some medications, including antibiotics, cause photosensitivity - they make a person more susceptible to sunlight. The photosensitivity reaction looks like a sunburn.

infections

Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi can also cause a rash. These rashes vary depending on the type of infection. For example, candidiasis, a common fungal infection, causes an itchy rash that usually appears in skin folds.

If you suspect an infection, it is important to see a doctor.

Autoimmune conditions

An autoimmune condition occurs when a person's immune system starts attacking healthy tissues. There are many autoimmune diseases, some of which can cause rashes. For example, lupus is a condition that affects a number of body systems, including the skin. When the disease occurs, a butterfly-shaped rash appears on the face.

Let's talk in more detail about what diseases and situations can lead to skin rashes.

A bite of an insect

Many insects can cause a rash with their bite. While the response may vary by person and animal, symptoms often include:

Redness and rash
Swelling at or around the bite site

Sticker's disease

Sticker's disease, also known as erythema infectiosum and slap syndrome, is caused by parvovirus B19. One of the symptoms is a rash that appears in three stages:

Spotted red rash on the cheeks with clusters of red papules
After 4 days, a network of red spots may appear on the arms and torso
In the third stage, the rash appears only after exposure to sunlight or heat.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that most commonly affects children. The first sign is usually a red, itchy patch. There are two types of impetigo:

Non-bullous impetigo- red sores appear around the mouth and nose.
bullous impetigo- less common, usually affects children under 2 years of age. Medium and large blisters appear on the torso, arms and legs.

Scabies

Scabies is a skin disease caused by a microscopic mite. It is highly contagious and spreads easily through personal contact. Symptoms include:

Severe itching - often worse at night.
The rash looks like a line. Sometimes blisters are present.
Wounds may appear at the site of the rash.

Eczema

It is one of the most common skin diseases. It often develops during childhood. Symptoms depend on the type of eczema and the person's age, but often include:

Dry scaly patches on the skin
Severely itchy rash
Cracked and rough skin

hay fever

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction to pollen. Symptoms may be similar to those of a cold, such as:

Runny nose
watery eyes
sneezing

Hay fever can also cause a hive-like rash. The rash will appear as itchy red spots.

rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory response to a streptococcal infection such as acute pharyngitis. Most often affects children aged 5-15 years. Symptoms include:

Small, painless bumps under the skin
Red skin rash
swollen tonsils

Mononucleosis

Called by a virus. The disease is rarely serious, but symptoms can include:

Pink, measles-like rash
Body aches
high temperature

Ringworm

Ringworm, despite its name, is caused by a fungus. A fungal infection affects the top layer of the body's skin, scalp, and nails. Symptoms vary depending on the site of infection, but may include:

Itchy, red ring-shaped rash - sometimes slightly raised
Small patches of scaly skin
Hair loss in the affected area

Measles

It is a highly contagious disease caused by the rubeola virus. Symptoms include:

Reddish brown rash
Small grayish white spots with bluish white centers in the mouth
Dry cough

Sepsis

Sepsis, often referred to as blood poisoning, is a medical emergency. Sepsis develops as a result of an extensive immune response to infection. Symptoms vary but may include:

Rash that does not go away with pressure
Fever
Increased heart rate

Lyme disease

It is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick. Symptoms include a migratory rash that often appears early in the disease.

The rash starts as a small red area that may be warm to the touch but not itchy. Soon the central part loses color, giving the rash the appearance of an apple.

The rash does not necessarily appear at the site of a tick bite.

toxic shock syndrome

It is a rare disease caused by a bacterial infection. It develops quickly and can be life-threatening. All people with toxic shock syndrome experience a fever and rash with the following characteristics:

Looks like a sunburn and covers most of the body
Rash flat
Turns white when pressed

Acute HIV infection

In the early stages of HIV, levels of the virus in the blood are very high because the immune system has not yet begun to fight the infection. Early symptoms include a rash with the following signs:

Mainly affects the upper body
Flat or slightly raised small red dots
Doesn't itch

Acrodermatitis

Acrodermatitis, a type of pustular psoriasis, is also known as Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. The disease is associated with viral infections. Symptoms include:

Itchy purple or red blisters
Enlarged lymph nodes
Bloated belly

hookworm

Red, itchy, swollen skin rash in one specific area.
Labored breathing.
Extreme fatigue.

Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a rare syndrome that affects children. It is characterized by inflammation of the walls of the arteries throughout the body. Symptoms include:

Eruption on legs, arms and trunk, between genitals and anus.
Rash on feet and palms, sometimes with peeling of the skin.
Swollen, chapped and dry lips.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. The disease is treatable, but does not go away on its own. Symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease and include:

Initially, painless, hard and round syphilitic ulcers (chancres).
Later, a non-itchy red-brown rash that starts on the trunk and spreads throughout the body.
Oral, anal and genital warts.

SARS

Atypical is less severe than the typical form. Symptoms may include:

Rash (rare)
Weakness and fatigue
Chest pain, especially with deep breathing

erysipelas

Erysipelas is a skin infection that only affects the top layers of the skin. The skin becomes:

Swollen, red and shiny
Sensitive and warm to the touch
Red streaks over the affected area

Reye's syndrome

Reye's syndrome is rare and most common in children. It can cause serious damage to the organs of the body, especially the brain and liver. Early symptoms include:

Rash on the palms of the hands and feet.
Repetitive severe vomiting.
Lethargy, confusion and headaches.

Addisonian crisis

Addisonian crisis, also known as adrenal crisis and acute adrenal insufficiency, is a rare and potentially fatal condition in which the adrenal glands stop working properly. Symptoms include:

Skin reactions, including rash
Low blood pressure
Fever, chills and sweating

Chemical burns

Relatively common: they can occur when a person comes into direct contact with a chemical or its fumes. Symptoms vary but may include:

Skin that appears black or dead
Irritation, burning, or redness in the affected area
Numbness and pain

juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in children. Previously it was called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms vary by subtype, but may include:

Random rashes
Scaly psoriasis-like rash
Fever outbreaks

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection of the lungs. Sometimes it has no symptoms, but other times it causes pneumonia-like symptoms:

Chest pain
Red bumps on legs

Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is a disease that causes muscle weakness and a rash. The rash can be red and patchy or bluish-purple, and appears in places such as:

Shoulders and upper back
Fingers
Palms
Around eyes

Ichthyosis vulgaris

Ichthyosis vulgaris is an inherited skin disorder that often begins in childhood. It is caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for the protein. filaggrin. Features include:

The surface of the skin becomes dry, thick and scaly.
Dryness is often accompanied by small, white, or skin-like flakes.
Usually the disease affects the elbows, shins, face, scalp and torso.

Pemphigoid

Pemphigoid is a group of rare autoimmune conditions that primarily cause rashes and blistering of the skin. There are three main types:

bullous pemphigoid- Blistering on the lower torso, groin, armpits, inner thighs, feet and hands.
Cicatricial pemphigoid- most often affects the mucous membranes.
Pemphigoid gestation- develops during pregnancy and affects mainly the upper body.

Phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria is a genetic condition that affects how phenylalanine broken down by the body. Affects 1 in 10,000 children in the US. If the condition is left untreated, phenylalanine accumulates, causing:

Skin rashes such as eczema
Lightening of the skin and eyes due to abnormal levels of melanin
Seizures

porfiria

Porphyria belongs to a group of genetic disorders that can affect the nervous system or the skin. Symptoms vary but may include:

Redness and swelling on the skin
Burning pain
Changes in skin pigmentation

Heliotrope rash

A heliotrope rash is often the first noticeable symptom of an inflammatory muscle disease called dermatomyositis. In this state:

The skin swells
Red spots appear
Skin looks dry and irritated

High levels of uric acid in the body

A person may develop a rash when high levels of uric acid in the blood cause crystals to form and accumulate in and around the joint. It can also lead to gout. Symptoms include:

Pitting rash on the surface of the skin
Redness, tenderness and swelling of the joints
Prolonged joint pain for several weeks after the reaction

home remedies

Rash comes in many forms and develops for many reasons. However, there are some basic steps you can take to help speed up recovery and ease discomfort:

Use a mild, unscented soap. This soap is designed specifically for sensitive or baby skin.
Do not wash your face or take hot water showers- choose warm.
Try to let the rash "breathe". Do not cover the affected area with adhesive tape or a bandage.
Don't rub the rash, pet it if you feel itchy.
If the rash is dry For example, for eczema, use unscented moisturizers.
Do not use cosmetics or lotions that can cause a rash, such as recently purchased products.
Avoid scratches to reduce the risk of infection.
Creams with cortisone, which are available without a prescription, can relieve itching.
Calamine may relieve rashes from chickenpox, or from poison ivy or oak.
If the rash causes mild pain, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can relieve it, but it's not a long-term solution—they won't cure the cause of the rash.

When to see a doctor?

If the rash is accompanied by the following symptoms, it is important to see a doctor:

Sore throat
Joint pain
Recent animal or insect bite
Red streaks near the rash
Sensitive areas near the rash

Although a rash is not usually a cause for concern, anyone experiencing the following symptoms should go to the hospital immediately:

Rapidly changing skin color
Difficulty breathing or tightness in the throat
Increasing or severe pain
Heat
Confused mind
Dizziness
Swelling of the face or limbs
Severe pain in the neck or head
Recurring vomiting or diarrhea

In medicine, six types of primary infectious rash in a child are usually distinguished. These include rashes in scarlet fever, erythema infectiosum, mononucleosis, measles, roseola infantum, and rubella.

Signs of infectious rashes in children

The infectious nature of the rashes is indicated by a number of symptoms that accompany the course of the disease. These signs include:

intoxication syndrome, which includes a rise in temperature, weakness, malaise, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headaches and muscle pain, etc.;
signs of a specific disease, for example, with measles, Filatov-Koplik spots appear, with scarlet fever, limited reddening of the pharynx and others are usually noted;
in most cases, infectious diseases can be traced to the cyclical course, there are also cases of similar pathologies in the patient's family members, colleagues, friends and acquaintances, that is, people who had close contact with him. But it must be borne in mind that the nature of the rash can coincide with various diseases.

In children, an infectious rash is most often spread by contact or hematogenous route. Its development is associated with the rapid multiplication of pathogenic microbes on the baby's skin, their transfer through the blood plasma, infection of blood cells, the occurrence of the antigen-antibody reaction, as well as increased sensitivity to certain antigens that secrete bacteria that cause infection.

Papular rashes, which later begin to become wet, are often caused by direct infection of the skin with pathogenic microorganisms or viruses. However, the same rash can appear under the influence of the immune system on the action of the pathogen.

Diagnosis of infectious rashes

When diagnosing maculopapular rashes and non-vesicular rashes caused by a viral infection, the palms and feet become predominantly affected, which is quite rare in other cases. So, for bacterial and fungal infections, immune diseases, as well as side effects on various drugs, such a lesion zone is absolutely not typical.

An infectious rash in a child can accompany both acute and chronic diseases. Of the acute pathologies, rashes most often manifest measles, chickenpox, scarlet fever, and others, and of the chronic ones, tuberculosis, syphilis, and others. In this case, the diagnostic significance of the elements of the rash may be different. So, in one case, the diagnosis can be made only by characteristic rashes, in others, the elements of the rash become a secondary diagnostic sign, and in the third, the rash is an atypical symptom.

Rashes with measles

Measles is an infectious disease characterized by intoxication, fever, lesions of the upper organs of the respiratory system, pronounced cyclicity and a rash on the skin in the form of spots and papules. This pathology is easily transmitted by contact with a sick person by airborne droplets. Rashes usually appear on the 3rd-4th day of illness. In recent years, the prevalence of measles has declined sharply, this is due to timely vaccination. In the absence of antibodies to the causative agent of measles in the blood, a person is very susceptible to this disease.

The first elements of the rash may appear on the third, in more rare cases on the second or fifth day of illness. Usually, skin manifestations of measles persist for about 4 days, after which their reverse development is observed. In this case, the rash has a pronounced staging. The areas of the bridge of the nose and behind the ear space are affected first, then the face and neck, then the torso and arms, and lastly the legs, feet and hands. By the fourth day, the elements become brownish in color and lose their papular character. In the future, pigmentation forms at this place, in some cases flaky. The individual elements of the measles rash are round in shape, often merge together, rise above the surrounding skin, which remains unchanged.

For the diagnosis of measles, the following points of the disease and characteristic manifestations are important:

Abrupt onset of the disease, rapid fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, severe lacrimation and severe photophobia.

On the second day, Velsky-Filatov-Koplik spots begin to appear on the inner surface of the cheeks. They are small white dots around which there is a zone of hyperemia. The spots last for about two days, and then disappear, leaving behind a loose mucous membrane.

In the course of the disease, a clear staging can be traced. The rash appears on the 3-4th day. On the first day of the rash, the face is affected, on the second day the torso, on the third day the limbs. A peculiar development of the elements can be noted: at first it is a spot or papule, approximately 5 mm in size, then it quickly grows to 1-1.5 cm, while individual spots often merge into a continuous surface.

The nature of the rash: plentiful, prone to confluence, often takes on a hemorrhagic appearance.

The rash begins to reverse development about three days after it appeared and resolves in the same order in which it appeared.

In some cases, a measles-like rash may occur in a child after a live measles vaccination. This period can last up to 10 days from the date of administration of the vaccine. In addition to an infectious rash, a child may experience low-grade fever, conjunctivitis lasting several days, cough, runny nose and other symptoms. In such cases, the elements that appear are not abundant and do not merge. The rash occurs without the typical stages of measles. Diagnosis is based on examination, questioning and history taking.

Rubella

Rubella is caused by a virus. With this disease, there is an increase in lymph nodes located in the occipital region and the back of the neck, as well as the appearance of an infectious rash. This pathology is often found in children of younger, school and adolescence. Most often it is transmitted by airborne droplets, a transplacental route is possible. Depending on this, the disease is divided into congenital and acquired.

Congenital rubella is a rather dangerous pathology, as it has a teratogenic effect on the child, as a result of which various deformities may occur. The most common is the classic syndrome associated with congenital rubella. It is manifested by three pathologies: a defect in the cardiovascular system, cataracts and deafness. Less common is the so-called extended syndrome, in which pathologies of the development of the nervous, genitourinary or digestive systems are noted.

Acquired rubella is a less dangerous disease. In childhood, its course is usually mild, the temperature increase is not strong. In adolescence, all symptoms are more pronounced: the temperature reaches febrile values, signs of intoxication and joint pain are noted. An infectious rash appears already on the first day of illness, in more rare cases - on the second. Elements of rashes are formed very quickly, most often during the day. First of all, the face is affected, then the rash slips to the neck, trunk and limbs. The most favorite localization is the sides, extensor parts of the legs and arms, buttocks. Rashes remain on the skin for about three days, less often - up to a week, after which they disappear without leaving any traces.

In about one in five cases, rubella occurs without a rash. Such forms are very difficult to diagnose and recognize. However, they pose a certain danger, mainly due to the possibility of contact and infection of pregnant women.

In most cases, the course of acquired rubella is benign. Complications are rare, most often in older children and adolescents. Complications can appear in the form of meningoencephalitis or simple encephalitis, which is characterized by a fairly high percentage of mortality, and after rubella, arthralgia, thrombocytopenic purpura, or arthritis can develop.

Enteroviral infection

This disease is more severe, accompanied by high fever. In addition, symptoms of enterovirus infection are gastroenteritis, herpetic sore throat, muscle pain, serous meningitis, poliomyelitis-like syndrome.

An infectious rash in a child affected by an enterovirus occurs approximately 3-4 days after the onset of the disease. Usually, its appearance is accompanied by a normalization of temperature and a noticeable relief of the patient's condition. Rashes are formed immediately, during the day. The face and torso are predominantly affected. The characteristic appearance of the rash is patchy or maculopapular. The size of the elements may be different, the color is pink. The rashes last for several days (no longer than 4), and then disappear. In rare cases, pigmentation remains in their place.

Infectious mononucleosis

The causative agent of infectious mononucleosis is the Epstein-Barr virus. The characteristic manifestations of the disease are generalized lymphadenopathy, severe fever, tonsillitis, hepatosplenomegaly and the formation of atypical mononuclear cells in the blood. Children and teenagers get sick with mononucleosis more often. The virus, which is the causative agent of this pathology, refers to DNA-containing and belongs to the group of herpes viruses. It can cause cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Burkitt's lymphoma. Infectious mononucleosis is difficult to transmit, that is, it is low contagious.

In most cases, this disease does not form a rash. If it appears, then approximately on the fifth day. The elements of the rash have the form of irregularly shaped spots, the size of which is 0.5-1.5 cm. Sometimes these spots merge into a common surface. As a rule, more abundant rashes are noted on the face, limbs and trunk can also be affected. The rash appears chaotically, without characteristic stages, this is the difference from measles. In infectious mononucleosis, the rashes are polymorphic and have an exudative character. The size of individual elements can vary significantly. The occurrence of a rash is not associated with any specific period of illness: it can appear both on the first day of the illness, and at its end. It usually remains on the skin for several days, after which it disappears without a trace or with light pigmentation in its place.

Skin manifestations of hepatitis B

Typical skin lesions that occur with hepatitis B include Crosti-Gianotti syndrome, characteristic of young children and manifested in the form of papular acrodermatitis, and urticaria. The latter becomes a characteristic symptom, indicating the prodromal stage of the disease. The rashes are present on the skin for a couple of days. By the time they disappear, jaundice and joint pain begin. The rash may appear as macules, papules, or petechiae.

Crosti-Gianotti syndrome often accompanies the anicteric form of the disease. At the same time, other signs of hepatitis B appear simultaneously with the rashes or much later. The rash remains on the skin for up to three weeks.

Infectious erythema

This disease is caused by the human parovirus. The course of infectious erythema is usually mild, it belongs to low contagious and self-limited pathologies. The rash in this disease has the appearance of papules or maculae. With infectious erythema, the prodromal period is mild, and general well-being is practically not disturbed. Children are more susceptible to this disease, in adults it is much less common.

Sudden exanthema

This pathology is caused by the herpes simplex virus, which belongs to the sixth type, is characterized by an acute course and affects mainly young children. The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature to 40-41 degrees, the fever can persist for several days. In this case, the symptoms of intoxication are mild or completely absent. In addition to temperature, generalized lymphadenopathy and rashes are noted. Skin manifestations usually occur after the temperature has returned to normal, approximately on the third or fourth day. Elements of an infectious rash can be spots, macula or pustules. The rashes remain on the skin for about a day, after which they disappear without any traces.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is one of the diseases caused by streptococcus. A rash in this pathology usually occurs by the end of the first or the beginning of the second day of the disease. Then it quickly covers the whole body. First of all, the elements of the rash affect the face, especially the cheeks, then the neck, arms, legs and torso. Favorite localizations of the rash are the inner surfaces of the arms and legs, chest, lateral surfaces of the chest, lower back, fold areas: elbows, armpits, popliteal cavities, groin. The elements of the rashes are represented by small roseola, the diameter of which is about 2 mm. The skin under the rash is hyperemic. Immediately after the appearance, the color of the rash is quite bright, and then it becomes noticeably paler.

Meningococcal infection

With this disease, the rash appears within the first few hours, in more rare cases - by the second day. Before the onset of rashes, the patient may experience symptoms of inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity and pharynx, this phenomenon lasts about five days. Then there are pronounced signs of intoxication, the temperature rises greatly, elements of the rash appear. They may present as roseola or papules and quickly develop into a hemorrhagic rash that spreads and grows in size. Such hemorrhages protrude above the surface of the body. The predominant localization of rashes is the face, limbs, buttocks and torso.

Felinosis, or cat scratch disease

Another name for this disease is benign lymphoreticulosis. This is an inflammatory process that affects the lymph nodes and is characterized by a purulent character. The causative agent of this disease is chlamydia, which is transmitted to humans through a scratch or a cat bite. Manifestations of felinosis are fever, local lymphadenitis, long healing of skin lesions. Initially, skin changes appear as reddish papules that are painless to the touch. In the future, they can fester, with healing, the scar does not remain. Two weeks after receiving a scratch from an animal, local lymph nodes increase, axillary nodes are most often affected, less often inguinal or cervical. After about two months, the lymph nodes return to normal. However, in almost a third of cases, the lymph nodes melt.

Yersiniosis and pseudotuberculosis

Symptoms of these diseases are severe intoxication, damage to the musculoskeletal system and abdominal cavity, in most cases, patients also experience the formation of an infectious rash on the skin. The clinical picture for both pathologies is quite similar. An accurate diagnosis can only be made on the basis of certain laboratory tests.

Pseudotuberculosis is characterized by a one-time occurrence of a rash, this usually occurs on the 3rd day from the onset of the disease. Rashes are most often located symmetrically on the sides of the body, lower abdomen, groin, area of the main joints of the arms and legs, mainly on the flexor part. But the entire surface of the body can be affected. In the period when there was no description of the etiology and mechanism of the disease, it was called DSL, which stands for Far Eastern scarlet fever.

Paratyphoid and typhoid fever

Paratyphoid fever type A, B or C, as well as typhoid fever are caused by microorganisms related to salmonella. These pathologies are characterized by all the symptoms of intoxication, severe fever, hepatosplenomegaly and a rash that looks like roseol. The clinical manifestations of both diseases are similar. They usually begin acutely, suddenly with a sharp rise in temperature to 39 degrees and above. In addition, lethargy, weakness, apathy, malaise, and so on can be noted. Over time, the symptoms tend to increase. In other words, the child becomes more and more lethargic, does not make contact, refuses to eat. Usually, the spleen and liver are enlarged, the tongue becomes coated, and clear impressions of the teeth are visible along its edges. By the second week from the onset of the disease, roseolas appear on the skin, most often their number is small, the lateral parts of the chest and abdomen are affected.

Erysipelas

This disease is characterized by damage to the skin with the appearance of pronounced, limited foci and symptoms of intoxication of the body. It is caused by a streptococcal infection. In this case, the element of rashes becomes hyperemia, which has a bright color, clear edges and a limited affected area. Its borders may acquire an irregular shape. Typical areas for the rash to appear are the eyelids, ears, and hands and feet. The skin under the elements of the rash noticeably swells. In this case, there is inflammation and an increase in lymph nodes and blood vessels from the site of skin lesions to regional nodes. If timely treatment is not started, then erysipelas grows rapidly and can lead to severe intoxication of the body and sepsis.

Congenital syphilis and rashes in children

Syphilitic rashes characteristic of the congenital form of syphilis usually occur in the first weeks and months of a child's life. In this case, an infectious rash in a child looks like large spots, in some cases having a brownish color, or small nodules. In addition to rashes, there is an increase in the spleen and liver, severe anemia and positive tests for syphilis.

Borreliosis

Borreliosis is also called Lyme disease or erythema mite. This pathology is characterized by an acute course, the cause of it is spirochete. Infection occurs through tick bites. Symptoms of borreliosis are skin rashes and lesions of the heart, nervous system and joints. This disease is common in areas where ixodid ticks are found.

Rashes with helminthiasis and leishmaniasis

There are two types of cutaneous leishmaniasis: rural, or acutely necrotizing, and urban, or late ulcerative. The first of these is carried in most cases by small rodents, such as ground squirrels, hamsters, gerbils and others. The source of urban leishmaniasis is a person. The causative agents of this disease are carried by mosquitoes. The incubation period is quite long. In most cases, it lasts about two months, but sometimes it can last several years.

A characteristic manifestation of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin lesion in the place where the mosquito has bitten. As already mentioned, there are two types of the disease, depending on the type of lesion. In the urban form of the disease, the elements of the infectious rash appearing on the skin are dry, and in the rural form they are weeping. Exposed parts of the body after mosquito bites are covered with itchy papules that grow rapidly. A few months later, sometimes six months later, an ulcer with a granular base appears at the site of the lesion, the size of which can be more than 1 cm. It is painful to the touch, covered with a crust and does not heal for a long time. The cure comes suddenly, usually a couple of months pass until this moment, a thin, white scar forms at the site of the lesion. In this case, the causative agents of the disease can penetrate into the lymphatic vessels, move along them and infect new areas, which is determined by inflammation of the lymph nodes and swelling of the tissue. As a rule, the weeping form of leishmaniasis develops more dynamically and quickly. After the illness, a strong immunity is formed.

An infectious rash in a child in the form of papules or maculae may indicate the presence of helminthiasis. Most often, this manifestation occurs with echinococcosis, trichinosis, ascariasis and other diseases. The appearance of a rash in these cases is accompanied by severe itching.

Scabies in babies

Scabies in young children has some distinctive features. So, itch moves are mostly located on the soles of the feet and palms. A rash may appear in the form of vesicles, spots or blisters localized on the back of the head, thighs, flexor surface of the arms, shins, around the nipples and navel.

Chicken pox

This pathology is very contagious and easily transmitted from person to person, it is caused by a DNA-containing virus. The characteristic signs of chickenpox are signs of intoxication and a characteristic rash in the form of vesicles that affects the skin and mucous membranes. Doctors consider chickenpox to be uncontrollable infections, most often children of preschool age get sick with it. In rare cases, newborn babies (if the mother did not have chickenpox in childhood) and adults can get sick.

The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of severe symptoms. The following features are important in this regard:

The rash is represented by single-chamber vesicles and is equally located on the skin and mucous membranes.
Elements are localized on the scalp.
severe itching

Eruptions have false polymorphism. This is due to the periodic (every 2 days) appearance of new elements. Therefore, on the affected areas of the skin, elements characteristic of different stages of development are often located: maculae, papules, vesicles, crusts.

Herpes and shingles

The causative agent of herpes is a specific virus, which is divided into 2 types: type I mainly affects the mucous membranes and skin of the face, type II - the genital area and lower body. However, both types of viruses can appear in any localization depending on the contact. Herpes clinically manifests itself in the form of a blistering infectious rash on the skin and mucous membranes, and can also affect various tissues and organs. Before the appearance of elements of the rash at the site of the lesion, tingling, itching and increased sensitivity are noted, pain and neuralgia in this area may occur. Skin manifestations look like a group of vesicles with thin walls and a reddened, edematous base. Their localization can be different, although most often they appear on the border of the mucous membrane and skin. In childhood, bubbles after bursting are often secondarily infected.

Herpes zoster has an acute course, its characteristic symptoms are blisters, neuralgia, hypersensitivity in certain places corresponding to the affected areas. When collecting an anamnesis, it usually turns out that the patient had had chickenpox in the recent past. At the very beginning of the pathology, pains, indurations on the skin, fever, weakness, weakness and other signs of general malaise appear in the affected areas. Most often, the region of the thoracic and lumbar regions is affected, in young children the sacral and cranial nerves can also be captured, as evidenced by rashes on the genitals and legs. If there is involvement in the process of the trigeminal nerve, then skin manifestations can occur on the forehead, nose, eyes and scalp, cheeks and palate and lower jaw. After two or three days, red papules appear, having a group arrangement. Then they pass into the stage of bubbles, the contents of which are first transparent, then cloudy. These blisters dry up and turn into crusts. The full cycle of development of the elements of such a rash takes about 1-1.5 weeks. Characterized by unilateral location of rashes. It can take up to two days from the first symptoms to the onset of the rash. Local lymph nodes in this disease are usually enlarged.

Duhring's disease or hepetiform dermatitis

This pathology can develop after an infection. Its onset is usually acute and sudden. It is expressed in the deterioration of the general condition, the appearance of fever, skin manifestations localized in the inguinal region, on the buttocks and thighs. Rashes are represented by blisters of different sizes, filled with transparent or hemorrhagic contents. The skin under the elements of the rash is not changed. Feet and hands are not involved in the process. There is a sharp, severe itching.

Dermatitis due to insect bites

Dermatitis, caused by an insect bite, most often affects open areas. Elements of such a rash can be nodules or blisters. They usually itch a lot. At the site of the lesion, scratching or rashes similar to impetigo may form.

pyoderma

This disease is characterized by purulent inflammation of the skin. The causative agents of pyoderma are often staphylococci or streptococci. This pathology can occur as a primary independent disease or becomes a complication of other diseases, such as neurodermatitis, eczema and others. Pyoderma can take various forms, Ritter's exfoliative dermatitis, pseudofurunculosis, vesiculopustulosis, neonatal pemphigus and others are isolated.

Streptococcal or staphylococcal impetigo

Such infections often occur in children's institutions, and due to their high contagiousness, they quickly spread and acquire the character of an epidemic. Impetigo is manifested by an infectious rash, represented by medium or small vesicles. The disease is characterized by undulating rashes that repeat on the scalp and face. In the process of development, the bubbles burst, the secret that they contain dries up, leaving yellow crusts.

Ecthyma disease, outwardly very similar to impetigo, however, it also affects the deeper layers of the skin. Such a rash is localized mainly on the legs.

Bullous impetigo is a localized skin infection caused by staphylococcus aureus. Its characteristic manifestation is blisters that form against the background of normal skin. The contents of such bubbles may be pale, transparent or dark yellow, and subsequently become cloudy.

Burn-like skin lesion caused by staphylococcus aureus

This pathology is also called Ritter's exfoliative dermatitis and affects young children. The first symptoms of the disease are redness of the skin of the face, groin, neck and armpits. The lesion spreads rather quickly, the skin takes on a wrinkled appearance due to the formation of flaccid blisters. The liquid filling them has a light shade and is transparent in appearance. Then detachment of the upper layer of the skin begins, the appearance is similar to a 2nd degree burn.

Pseudofurunculosis, or multiple abscesses

This disease is characterized by an infectious rash that looks like subcutaneous nodes. Their size can be different, from a small pea to a hazelnut. The color of the elements of the rash is usually brown-red, a bluish tinge is possible. The neck, buttocks, back of the thigh, and back are most commonly affected.

Viral exanthema in children is an acute infectious disease, accompanied by fever, the appearance of characteristic rashes on the skin. The causative agent of exanthema, which mainly affects young children, are various types of herpes viruses, enteroviruses, coxsackie virus and other infectious agents.

A frequent provoking factor that triggers the mechanism of the disease is childhood infections:

scarlet fever;
chicken pox;
rubella

The causative agent of exanthema in children is mainly viruses, the bacterial form of infection is much less common (only 20% of cases). In fact, exanthema is a skin rash that appears when it is infected by viruses, or occurs as a result of the body's immune reactions to the penetration of the pathogen (according to this principle, a rubella rash spreads).

Rashes with viral exanthema can be of different types. So with measles, rubella, herpes virus type 6, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, a red rash appears on the skin in the form of papules and spots.

When infected with the coxsackie virus, herpes type 1, the Varicella Zoster virus (causing chickenpox), blisters form on the skin, filled with watery or serous contents. Adenoviruses, enteroviruses cause rashes in the form of papules and vesicles that tend to merge.

Classification

The main symptom of viral exanthema is a skin rash, the appearance of which depends on the type of pathogen. Taking into account this factor, an infectious disease is divided into several types.

Classic exanthematous childhood infections, accompanied by skin rashes:

scarlet fever;
rubella;
chicken pox

Atypical forms of viral infections:

sudden exanthema;
Infectious mononucleosis;
enterovirus infection;
infectious erythema.

Let us dwell in more detail on the main symptoms and methods of treatment of viral exanthems.

Signs of viral exanthema in children

Sudden exanthema in children is an acute viral infection caused by herpesvirus type 6 (rarely type 7). In medicine, this childhood viral infection is also called pseudorubella or roseola. This is a widespread disease that affects almost all young children. In the vast majority of cases, sudden viral exanthema in children develops in babies aged 9 to 12 months.

The peak of infection usually falls on the autumn - winter period, and boys and girls get sick with the same frequency. The child suffers this disease once, after which he develops a strong immunity that lasts throughout his life.

The course of infection is accompanied by characteristic signs. The incubation period of the disease is from 5 to 15 days, after which the child's temperature suddenly rises to 39-40 ° C, which is difficult to remove with antipyretics. At the same time, pronounced symptoms of intoxication appear (apathy, lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, refusal to eat). But at the same time, there is no cough, runny nose, upset stool and other signs of colds. Symptoms such as diarrhea, redness of the pharynx, or swollen lymph nodes are rare.

Often, the manifestations of a sudden exanthema coincide in time with the period of teething, so parents and pediatricians often attribute the deterioration to this factor.

Fever

The fever persists for 2-3 days, after which the temperature returns to normal, the condition returns to normal, the child returns to his previous activity and appetite. However, the impression of a complete recovery is false, because after 10-20 hours the whole body of the baby is covered with a pale pink spotted rash. The first rashes appear on the abdomen and back, and then quickly spread to the face, chest and limbs.

Rash

Elements of a rash of a roseolous or papular type have a diameter of 1 to 5 mm, turn pale when pressed, and then quickly restore their previous pink color. Such rashes do not itch, do not cause discomfort to the child and do not tend to merge. With the appearance of rashes, the general well-being of the baby does not suffer, moreover, such a rash is not contagious. A visual representation of what a rash looks like with a sudden exanthema is given by the photos presented on sites dedicated to this disease.

All skin symptoms disappear without a trace after 2-3 days without subsequent pigmentation, only slight peeling remains on the skin. There are practically no complications with sudden exanthema, but in immunocompromised children, there have been cases of asthenia, intestinal intussusception, and acute myocarditis. Often, after suffering an exanthema, against the background of reduced immunity, there is an increase in the number of colds and the growth of adenoids.

The reasons

Enteroviral exanthema in children develops when intestinal viruses enter the general circulation. In newborns, the disease is provoked by viruses that are transmitted from mother to fetus through the placental barrier during pregnancy.

Like other infectious eczemas, this ailment begins acutely, with a sharp increase in temperature and an increase in symptoms of intoxication, after the disappearance of which, a diffuse rash appears without a specific location. A characteristic sign of enteroviral eczema is that the rash may appear against a background of ongoing fever. There are three main types of enteroviral exanthems:

Measles-like viral exanthema in children. It begins acutely, with fever, headaches and muscle pain. Almost immediately, redness of the oropharynx is noted, abdominal pain, loose stools, and vomiting often occur. On the 2nd-3rd day of a feverish condition, abundant maculopapular rashes up to 3 mm in diameter appear, which disappear without a trace after 1-2 days with a simultaneous decrease in temperature and normalization of the general condition.
Roseoloform viral exanthema in children also begins suddenly, accompanied by fever, symptoms of intoxication, pain and sore throat, although no significant changes or hyperemia of the oropharynx are detected during examination. The temperature drops sharply to normal values after 2-3 days from the onset of the disease, and at the same time, rounded pink rashes up to 1.5 cm in diameter appear all over the body, and they appear most abundantly on the chest and face. The rash disappears without a trace within 1 to 4 days.
Viral pemphigus is one of the variants of enteroviral exanthema. The causative agent of the disease is the coxsackie virus and enteroviruses. This type of exanthema predominantly affects children under 10 years of age. The disease is characterized by a slight intoxication of the body and the appearance of subfebrile temperature. Simultaneously with the deterioration of the condition, painful rashes appear on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity in the form of vesicles with an erythematous corolla. Soon, the same rashes form on the skin of the palms, feet, genitals or on the face. The vesicles open rather quickly, and erosions remain in their place. The disease proceeds in a mild form, complications usually do not occur, recovery occurs in 7-10 days.

Infectious erythema

This type of exanthema in children is caused by parvovirus B 19. A characteristic symptom of the disease is red, swollen cheeks and a lacy rash that appears on the trunk and limbs. Two days before the appearance of characteristic rashes, a deterioration in the general condition is noted - malaise, subfebrile temperature, lack of appetite, nausea, headache.

Small red spots that appear on the child's face quickly merge and form a bright red erythema, in medicine this symptom is called a symptom of "slapped" cheeks. The resolution of the rash on the face occurs within 1-3 days, after which bright red round spots appear on the skin of the body.

They are localized in the neck, on the trunk and in the folds of the limbs. The peculiar, mesh character of the rash gives it the appearance of lace, so this type of infection is called lacy exanthema. When such rashes appear, quite severe itching is noted. Skin manifestations usually disappear within a week, but under the influence of adverse factors (sun exposure, cold, heat, stress), they may be present on the skin for several weeks.

Infectious mononucleosis

It is caused by herpes viruses, which most children become infected by the age of three. The peak incidence occurs at 4-6 years of age and adolescence. The course of an acute infectious disease is accompanied by fever, symptoms of sore throat, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, lymphocytosis, and the appearance of atypical mononuclear cells in the blood. By the end of the first week of the disease, there is an increase in the liver and spleen.

In addition to the main symptoms, damage to the skin and mucous membranes occurs. At the height of the disease, rashes of a different nature appear on the skin - dotted, maculopapular or hemorrhagic elements. Such a rash does not itch or cause much concern, it lasts about 10 days, after which it resolves without leaving marks.

acute, highly contagious viral infection, the causative agent of which belongs to the paramyxovirus family. The appearance of rashes in this infection is preceded by fever with high fever, dry cough and symptoms of intoxication. First, 2-3 days before the appearance of the main rashes, small whitish spots form on the buccal mucosa.

Then red papular elements appear on the neck and face, which quickly spread throughout the body. On the third day of illness, the rash even covers the feet, but at the same time it gradually begins to turn pale on the face, leaving behind temporary pigmentation.

The causative agent of the disease belongs to the RNA togavirus family. The skin is affected by a papular rash, which spreads in the same sequence as with measles. But unlike the measles rash, rubella rashes do not tend to merge. in children it is easy, in some cases the general condition remains quite satisfactory. With reduced immunity, the appearance of subfebrile temperature and a moderate febrile state is noted.

Chickenpox and shingles

The development of these infections provokes a simple virus. When it enters the body for the first time, the pathogen causes chicken pox. After recovery, it does not disappear from the body, remaining in a latent state in the nerve ganglia. Since chickenpox develops immunity, the recurrence of the disease manifests itself in the form of shingles.

This type of infection is accompanied by the appearance of blisters with serous contents. With chickenpox, the bubbles spread throughout the body, with shingles, they form on the back, in the lumbar region and are located along the nerves. In both cases, the rash is painful and itchy, which, when scratched, increases the risk of bacterial infection and leads to the formation of purulent elements.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnostic measures for viral exanthems in children consist in a thorough study of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests. When making a diagnosis, it is very important to consider the characteristics of the rash. The specialist should pay attention to the type, shape and size of the rashes, their number and tendency to merge, as well as the background of the skin and the order of appearance of the rash (simultaneous, undulating or gradual).

The characteristic signs of viral exanthema is the appearance of rashes on the 2-3rd day from the onset of the disease. Skin manifestations are usually preceded by a sharp increase in temperature and deterioration of the general condition, and the appearance of a rash is noted after the disappearance of febrile symptoms. Viral exanthems are characterized by the absence of catarrhal phenomena, runny nose, cough. In viral infections, the appearance of papules, spots or vesicles is noted, while the course of bacterial infections is accompanied by an erythematous or hemorrhagic rash.

Laboratory studies include a complete blood count, PCR method (aimed at detecting a virus) and ELISA (allowing to determine antibodies to an infectious agent).

How to treat viral exanthema in children?

Treatment methods will depend on the final diagnosis. With viral exanthems in children, treatment is symptomatic, since there is no specific therapy.

The basis of therapeutic measures is the observance of bed rest, heavy drinking, the use of antipyretic drugs of the paracetamol series or Ibuprofen. The doctor selects the dosage of drugs on an individual basis. With highly contagious viral infections (measles, rubella, chickenpox), it is necessary to isolate the child for the entire duration of the illness, preventing him from contact with other children.

With chickenpox, measles, accompanied by the appearance of itchy elements, it is important to prevent the attachment of a bacterial infection and related complications. To eliminate itching, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines, to treat rashes with chickenpox, antiseptic solutions (brilliant green, aniline dyes) must be used and make sure that the baby does not comb itchy elements. When infected with herpes simplex viruses, antiviral agents are prescribed:

Valaciclovir
Farmciclovir

With herpes zoster, Acyclovir injections are used, the pediatrician selects the dosage of the drug and the regimen of administration individually, taking into account the age, severity of symptoms and the general condition of the baby. With paravirus and enterovirus infections, treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms of intoxication and alleviating the patient's condition.

During illness, the baby should be given as many fortified drinks as possible. It can be berry fruit drinks, compotes, green tea with honey and lemon, rosehip broth. In the room where the patient is located, it is necessary to do daily wet cleaning and ventilate the room more often. With non-contagious forms of exanthema (for example, with sudden exanthema), the baby can be taken for a walk after stopping the fever and normalizing the temperature.

To avoid unwanted complications that may accompany various forms of viral exanthems, parents should strictly follow all the recommendations of the attending physician and not self-medicate. To prevent infection with measles or rubella, it is necessary to vaccinate the child in a timely manner.

Parents always perceive the appearance of a rash on the skin of a child with anxiety, because everyone knows that the condition of the skin reflects the state of the work of the whole organism. Is a baby rash always a cause for concern, how to understand what is happening with the child and how to help him, we will tell in this article.

Features of children's skin

The skin of children is not like the skin of adults. Babies are born with very thin skin - the dermis of newborns is about two times thinner than the middle skin layer of adults. The outer layer - the epidermis, thickens gradually, as the crumbs grow older.

In the first month of life, the skin can be both red and purple. This is due to the fact that the blood vessels in babies are located close to the surface, and there is not enough subcutaneous tissue, because of this, the skin may look “transparent”. This is especially noticeable when the newborn is cold - a marble vascular network appears on the skin.

The skin of babies loses moisture faster, it is more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, fungi and mechanical stress. It begins to thicken only at 2-3 years and this process lasts up to 7 years. The skin of younger schoolchildren is already beginning to resemble the skin of adults in terms of its characteristics and functionality. But after 10 years, children's skin is waiting for a new test - this time puberty.

There is nothing surprising in the fact that thin children's skin reacts to any external influence or internal processes with rashes of a very different caliber, color and structure. And not every baby rash can be considered harmless.

It is important to understand that there is no causeless rash in children, any pimple or pigmentation change has a reason, sometimes pathological.

What is a rash?

A rash with medicine is considered to be a variety of rashes on the skin, which in one way or another change the appearance of the skin in color or texture. For parents, the whole rash is about the same, but doctors always distinguish primary rashes that formed first, and secondary ones - those that formed later, in place of the primary ones or nearby.

Different childhood diseases are characterized by different combinations of primary and secondary elements.

This is not a complete list of diseases that occur with the formation of a rash.

Most ailments, as can be seen from the table, require mandatory medical advice, some, such as meningococcal infection and scarlet fever, require emergency medical care.

If a rash appears in a child that does not look like acne or prickly heat, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician or dermatologist in order to exclude dangerous and serious infectious diseases, pathologies of internal organs that affect metabolism and digestion.

It is important to remember that many skin infections can be highly contagious. Therefore, you should not take the child to the clinic at the place of residence, so as not to infect others in the general queue. It is best to call a pediatrician at home.

If possible, it is possible to deliver the child to a specialized infectious diseases hospital, where it is possible to quickly undergo the necessary examination and confirm or refute the infection.

Treatment

The treatment of a rash does not always require only local exposure, most often it is a whole range of measures aimed at changing the living conditions of the child, and reviewing his diet, and taking medications.

A rash should be treated only after the true cause of its occurrence is known, because incorrect treatment can only aggravate the child's condition. Depending on the true nature of the skin rash, different treatments will be prescribed.

Infectious viral

The rash that accompanies most "childhood" diseases (chickenpox, measles, scarlet fever, etc.) does not need treatment. No medicines and folk remedies can affect its duration.

The rash disappears when the immune system produces a sufficient amount of antibodies and completely cracks down on the virus that has entered the body.

Depending on the severity of the disease itself, the doctor prescribes immunomodulatory drugs, antiviral agents, vitamins, and antipyretic drugs.

A child with a viral infection is shown a plentiful warm drink.

For the most part, antiviral drugs that are sold in pharmacies have no effect; they do not have proven effectiveness. Many popular homeopathic remedies are also essentially "dummy" with a placebo effect.

But nothing else is required from these drugs, because viral infections go away on their own, with or without pills. The drugs are prescribed so that parents have something to do on sick leave and so that the doctor is not accused of inattention.

Usually, the treatment of a viral infection takes from 5 to 10 days, after the disappearance of the rash, there are no traces left. An exception is chickenpox, in which damaged vesicles can leave fairly deep, lifelong pits in the skin.

The rash caused by herpes viruses (on the face, on the lower back, on the genitals) itches and hurts much less if Acyclovir cream is used.

Infectious bacterial

A pustular-type rash caused by pathogenic bacteria is treated with antibiotics and antiseptics. Moreover, antibiotics are selected after an analysis for bacteriological culture, when the doctor has clear information about which bacteria caused suppuration and to which antibacterial agents they demonstrate sensitivity.

Children are usually given penicillins, rarely cephalosporins. With a mild infection, local treatment with ointments with antimicrobial action is sufficient - Levomekol, Baneocin, erythromycin ointment, gentamicin ointment, tetracycline ointment.

In some cases, for a large and severe infection, or an infection that is at risk of spreading to the internal organs, prescribe antibiotics inside - for babies in the form of a suspension, for preschoolers and adolescents - in tablets or injections.

Preference is given to broad-spectrum drugs, usually the penicillin group - Amoxiclav, Amosin, Amoxicillin, Flemoxin Solutab. With the ineffectiveness of this group of drugs, cephalosporin antibiotics or macrolides may be prescribed.

As antiseptics well-known aniline dyes are often used - a solution of brilliant green (brilliant green) for staphylococcal infections or Fukortsin for streptococcus. Damaged skin is treated with salicylic alcohol.

Simultaneously with antibiotics, if they are prescribed orally, the child is recommended to take drugs that will help avoid the occurrence of dysbacteriosis - Bifiborm, Bifidumbacterin. It is also useful to start taking vitamin complexes appropriate for the age of the child.

Some purulent eruptions, such as boils and carbuncles, may require surgical intervention, during which the formation is incised crosswise under local anesthesia, the cavity is cleaned and treated with antiseptics and antibiotics. There is no need to be afraid of such a mini-operation.

The consequences of refusing it can be very deplorable, because a staphylococcal infection can lead to sepsis and death.

Sweating and diaper rash

If the baby has prickly heat, then this is a signal for parents to change the conditions in which the child lives. The temperature regime should be at the level of 20-21 degrees of heat. The heat only makes it worse. Irritation from sweat, although it gives the child a lot of painful sensations and pain, can be treated quite quickly.

The main medicine in this case is cleanliness and fresh air. The child should be washed with warm water without soap and other detergent cosmetics. Several times a day you need to arrange air baths for the baby naked. You should not wrap the child, and if he still sweats, for example, while walking on the street in warm overalls in winter, then immediately upon returning home, bathe the child in the shower and change into clean and dry clothes.

With severe diaper rash, damaged skin is treated 2-3 times a day. Most carefully and thoroughly - after daily evening bathing. After it, Bepanten, Desitin, Sudocrem are applied to still wet skin with signs of prickly heat. You need to use powder with great care, because talc dries the skin very much.

Baby cream or any other greasy creams and ointments should not be applied to the skin of a child with prickly heat, as they moisturize, not dry. You should also avoid getting massage oil on diaper rash during evening restorative procedures.

allergic

If the rash is allergic, treatment will be to find and rule out the child's interaction with the allergen that caused the skin rash. To do this, the allegologist conducts a series of special tests using test strips with allergens. If it is possible to find the protein that caused the rash, the doctor makes recommendations to exclude everything that contains such a substance.

If the antigen protein cannot be found (and this happens often), then parents will have to try and exclude from the child’s life everything that poses a potential threat - plant pollen, food (nuts, whole milk, chicken eggs, red berries and fruits, some types of fresh greens and even some types of fish, an abundance of sweets).

Pay special attention to baby skin care products.

Usually, eliminating the allergen is more than enough for the allergy to stop and the rash to disappear without a trace. If this does not happen, as well as in case of severe allergies, the doctor prescribes antihistamines ("Tavegil", "Cetrin", "Suprastin", "Loratadin" and others).

At the same time, it is desirable to take calcium preparations and vitamins. Locally, if necessary, the child is used hormonal ointments - "Advantan", for example. Severe forms of allergies, in which, in addition to a skin rash, there are pronounced respiratory manifestations, as well as internal pathologies, the child is treated in a hospital.