Children’s scratching
Children’s pruritus is an itchy dermatosis, whose main element are nodules with small bubbles in the center. The child, concerned about itching, combs the rash site, which leads to the development of deep excoriation.
Children’s pruritus mainly affects children of the first year of life. Sometimes this disease is also fixed in babies up to 5 years old.
Its distinctive feature is the involvement of the extensor parts of the limbs in the process without involving the flexor parts in it.
Reasons
The main reason leading to the development of the clinical picture of this disease is called the general sensitization of the child’s body, leading to this kind of allergic reactions. As a rule, food products (egg, chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits) act as sensitizing agents. Often, the development of this type of skin lesion is observed in children suffering from such specific allergic reactions as exudative diathesis, as well as gastrointestinal fermentopathies.
As predisposing factors, autointoscication of the body is often isolated in case of helminthic invasions, dysbiosis, biliary dyskinesia.
There is a theory whose authors cause the development of child and adult pruritus by insect bites. It is partially confirmed and some clinicians attribute pruritus to epizoonoses.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this ailment is the appearance of abundant and scattered nodular rashes on the surface of the skin, in which small bubbles soon begin to form. Subsequently, the bubbles are opened with the formation of point erosion covered with a serous crust. As we have already said, the extensor surfaces of the joints are actively involved in the process. Often papulovesicular elements affect the surface of the soles and palms, while reaching large sizes (up to 5-7 millimeters).
The child suffers from intense itching. By combing skin lesions, he thereby provokes the development of multiple excoriations.
Children with pruritus are irritable, whiny, sleep poorly and lose their appetite. Some researchers find a connection between the development of this disease and the congenital lability of the nervous system and some features of the constitution of young patients.
Often, the disease regresses independently with the cancellation of infant formula or cow’s milk. At the same time, the pruritus of children can turn into eczema or atopic dermatitis with the development of dry skin, anhidrosis and enlargement of the inguinal and femoral nodes.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of pruritus is made based on the results of a dermatologist’s examination and dermatoscopy of rashes. If there is a suspicion of the occurrence of an ailment against the background of gastrointestinal disorders or endocrine pathologies, an endocrinologist and gastroenterologist should be consulted. Tests for worm eggs and dysbiosis are recommended. Liver tests, including ultrasound, may be prescribed.
It is important to differentiate pruritus with diseases that have similar clinical manifestations. We are talking about scabies, toxicoderma, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus.
Treatment
Good success in the treatment of pruritus can be achieved thanks to the correction of the child’s diet. To reduce the sensitization of the body, infants are shown to give 15 drops of expressed milk 15 minutes before feeding. The inclusion of carrot juice, cottage cheese and kefir in the diet is shown. Pregnant and nursing mothers should not eat citrus fruits and eggs, some fish, pork, pickles and smoked meats. In extreme cases, the use of these products should be strictly limited.
A good effect in the fight against this disease is shown by deworming, rehabilitation of chronic foci of infection, treatment of dysbiosis and gastrointestinal tract lesions.
The use of enzyme, antihistamine and vitamin preparations has been shown. Sedatives and calcium preparations are also used. An excellent effect is observed after the use of cycles of therapeutic baths with herbal infusions (chamomile, turn, oak bark). Additionally, creams and ointments with glucocorticoids can be used for pruritus in children.
Physiotherapy methods such as microwave therapy, UFO, electroson, inductothermy, phonophoresis have proven themselves well in the fight against this ailment.
