Exanthema: pediatrician about 5 causes of development, 3 types of disease and a review of treatment methods

Exanthema is a skin rash that looks like spots, papules, and vesicles. Such pigmentation is characteristic of most infectious and viral diseases, and is often found in drug allergies. Sudden exanthema is observed with measles, rubella, scarlet fever. Sudden exanthema looks like a rash of various shapes and sizes, often found in children. Exanthema in adults in most cases is allergic in nature.

Online consultation on the disease “Exanthema”. Ask a question to the experts for free: Dermatologist.

Etiology
Classification
Symptoms
Diagnostics
Treatment
Possible complications
Prevention

Symptoms and treatment will depend on the specifics of the underlying disease and its causative agent. The underlying disease is diagnosed after a visual examination, and to determine the cause of the rash, additional studies may be prescribed that will help clarify the full picture of the disease.

The childhood form of skin rashes very rarely has complications with timely treatment, but childhood diseases in adulthood are much more severe, and all sorts of complications are almost always observed in the form of very high temperatures, scars on the skin, and can adversely affect the cardiovascular system.

Treatment will be medicinal and aimed at getting rid of infection or viruses, normalizing the temperature, and alleviating the rash.

The essence of the phenomenon

An exanthema is usually called a local response of the body to a virus attacking it, which manifests itself as rashes on the outer skin. These can be red-pink bubbles, blisters, spots, compactions, nodules, a lacy pattern of rashes with varying densities and localization. Rarely, bacterial infection may be the cause. In most cases, the external rash is accompanied by rashes on the internal mucous membranes.

Prevention of allergic rashes

Pediatricians advise, first of all, to strengthen the child’s immunity: walk in the fresh air more often, exercise and adhere to the rules of a balanced diet.

It is important to maintain hygiene - careful care of the baby's skin will prevent the appearance of diaper rash.

It is recommended to regularly wet clean your home using minimal household chemicals.

Medicines should be used as prescribed by a doctor and in accordance with the instructions.

Types of pathology

A stable classification of infectious rashes has not yet been formed. But there is a rash that is widespread throughout the body and localized.

Diseases with a predominant symptom in the form of exanthema are considered “classical”. With an atypical course, a rash does not necessarily occur.

Taking into account its localization and nature, the following types of exanthems are distinguished:

Generalized exanthemas, including “classical” and atypical varieties.
Exanthems of infectious etiology.
In the case of localized exanthems, we are talking about either direct activity of the virus in the epidermis, or a repeated pathological process.

Measles, rubella, scarlet fever, pseudotuberculosis, and chicken pox always cause skin rashes. Exanthema syndrome in these cases is leading for successful diagnosis.

Sometimes accompanied by lesions of the epidermis, erythema infectiosum, sudden exanthema, infectious mononucleosis, enterovirus infection.

Dermatological reactions to antibacterial, antimicrobial, sedative, and antituberculosis drugs are recorded much less frequently in children.

Prognosis and prevention

Rashes that accompany infectious pathologies in childhood can be successfully cured. Children who have recovered from the disease acquire lifelong immunity. In adults, childhood illnesses are severe and threaten complications. The following measures will help stop the spread of infection:

Isolation of a sick child from peers.
Ventilation of the room.
Maintaining hygiene.
Wet cleaning.
Taking vitamins.

To prevent skin rashes, the following prevention methods are necessary:

Vaccinate your children according to the vaccination schedule.
Strengthen the body's defenses by hardening and taking immunosuppressants.
Use foods rich in vitamins and microelements.
Increase your physical activity.
Don't give up breastfeeding your baby.

Common provocateurs

A variety of viruses can infect the body, causing skin disorders. The danger comes from respiratory, intestinal, parvoviruses, herpesviruses, pathogens of diseases such as measles, rubella, chickenpox and many others.

The nature of the mechanism for the development of exanthems is the circulation of the pathogen through the bloodstream, accumulation in tissues, and manifestation on the surface of the skin.

Or it is an acute immune response to the provocateur of the disease.

About rashes in babies

The appearance of rashes is more typical in childhood, since the skin of children has its own characteristics. The skin of babies is thinner than that of adults, more delicate and prone to irritation. Various factors can affect the health of the body's protective covering: air, water, allergens in food and in the environment, medications taken by the baby, infectious agents.

In addition, the immune system of children is imperfect and is not able to perform its function properly. Therefore, infectious diseases with skin manifestations, characteristic of childhood, and excessive sensitivity to certain substances and allergens arise.

Although there are a huge variety of rashes, depending on the cause of the rashes, they are all divided into 2 groups: infectious and non-infectious.

It is necessary to reassure parents by noting that the combination of symptoms of rash and fever in a child most often does not have serious consequences and goes away on its own. Often these manifestations are the result of non-infectious causes. But, if parents notice a sharp increase in temperature, a marked deterioration in the general condition of the baby and a rash, they should immediately contact a specialist. Such symptoms may indicate the development of childhood infections, both viral and bacterial.

Features of the rash

The entire surface of the body is affected, sharply and immediately. The rash becomes invisible if you press on the skin. You can check the symptom this way by placing a transparent glass tightly against the body. When it is removed, the rashes return again.

Rubella, measles, herpes of the fourth and sixth subtypes, intestinal viruses, cytomegalovirus cause nodular and spotty rashes on the epidermis.

Bubbles and blisters are provoked by herpes simplex, Coxsackie virus, agents of chickenpox, herpes zoster.

Hyperemia and vesicular-nodular rash are caused by respiratory, intestinal viruses, pathogens of hepatitis C and B. Parvovirus B19 is characterized by a lacy mesh of rashes. Illustrative examples of exanthema in children can be found online using photos.

Mostly the rash does not hurt or itch, with the exception of chickenpox. If it itches a lot, you need to rule out an allergy and make sure that the patient has not been bitten by insects.

Although viral exanthema in children is not life-threatening, in certain cases it is necessary to show the baby to the doctor:

if the rashes remain visible during the glass test;
if the itching bothers you;
if the condition is aggravated by hyperthermia, stool disorder, vomiting attacks, or other ailments.

A child with skin manifestations should be separated from other children and pregnant women (you need to make sure that these are not symptoms of rubella).

Features of sudden exanthema in children

Sudden exanthema (roseola) is a disease that affects most young children (from six months to 3 years). Children get sick with sudden exanthema mainly in autumn and winter. Once children have had this disease, they develop immunity, which minimizes the possibility of relapse.

READ ALSO: what roseola looks like in children and photos

Sudden exanthema is transmitted by airborne droplets and through personal contact with a sick person. The incubation period lasts from 5 days to 2 weeks.

The disease begins with an increase in temperature, which gradually increases, reaching high levels (39-40.5 degrees). Fever lasts an average of 3 days and is accompanied by signs of intoxication (weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea). A characteristic feature of sudden exanthema is that, despite the high temperature, the child does not experience catarrhal symptoms (cough, runny nose).

During a fever, the temperature does not remain constantly high. In the morning it decreases slightly, and in the evening it rises again to 39 degrees. In infants, against the background of elevated temperature, strong pulsation of the fontanelle is observed, and febrile convulsions are also possible. This should not cause concern, because... not associated with neurological problems.

As a rule, on the fourth day there is a significant decrease in the child’s body temperature. Parents mistake this for recovery, but at the same time a rash appears on the baby’s body.

The pink spots of the rash do not tend to merge, they turn pale when pressed, their diameter is from 1 to 5 mm, there is no itching. The rash that accompanies sudden exanthema is not contagious.

After a few days, the rashes on the body completely disappear. In exceptional cases, sudden exanthema is accompanied only by fever, without a rash. The child's condition at this time is satisfactory.

Fifth disease

This was previously the name given to erythema infectiosum of Rosenberg and Chamer. The causative agent is the DNA virus B19 from the parvovirus family. Children develop very recognizable swelling and redness on their cheeks, as if from spanking.

The body is covered with reddish patterns, similar to lace. The latent phase of the disease lasts up to fourteen days. Sometimes, a couple of days before the rash, the temperature rises slightly, there is a headache, weakness, the urge to vomit, and the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract becomes inflamed.

First, the rash covers the face in spots. Soon they unite into solid red areas on the surface of the cheeks.

After four days, the face clears up, but the neck, torso and folds of the arms and legs are strewn with spots with rounded edges and nodules of different shades of red. The rash is lighter in the center, so it looks like a lace mesh.

Sometimes it sprinkles on my palms and feet too. The skin itches. With manifestations on the epidermis, the patient’s infectiousness disappears. The rash goes away in about ten days, leaving no traces. The influence of ultraviolet radiation, hot water, low temperatures, overexertion and anxiety can delay recovery.

Joint problems occur as a complication in those who have recovered from parvovirus erythema. This is swelling, pain, inflammation of symmetrically located joints of the arms and legs. Treatment is primarily aimed at alleviating and eliminating symptoms.

Carrying out diagnostics

Differential diagnosis of viral exanthema (ICD-10 code - B08.2) consists of identifying the disease that caused the skin rash. In this case, the results of the tests may be taken into account along with the appearance of the skin rashes, the patient’s complaints and the dominant symptoms. As part of the examination of the patient, the doctor, as a rule, draws his attention to the following important characteristics of exanthema:

Size of the rash. This takes into account the tendency of the rash to merge.
The appearance along with the shape of the rash.
Total number of rashes.
Localization of rashes.
The nature of the rash, for example, it can be gradual, instantaneous or wave-like.
Changes in the skin, for example, the skin may be bluish, red or unchanged.

Among the laboratory research methods in case of suspected enteroviral exanthema, patients may be prescribed:

Carrying out a polymerase chain reaction, that is, a test aimed at detecting enteroviral RNA in the obtained sample of cerebrospinal fluid.
Performing a serological blood test to detect an increase in the number of antibodies produced by the body so that it can overcome the enterovirus. This test can only detect the Coxsackie virus, as well as some echoviruses.
Conducting a cerebrospinal fluid analysis. This study is carried out if there are symptoms of infection of the brain or spinal cord, and also their membranes. Through puncture, a certain amount of fluid is taken from the patient's spinal canals.
Conducting a study of cardiac enzymes and troponin in viral exanthema in adults. This is a type of examination that aims to determine the amount of troponin, and in addition, specific cardiac enzymes that can be detected in the blood if a person has a damaged heart.
Perform polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcriptase. This study makes it possible to identify common genetic regions among different enteroviruses.

Among other diagnostic procedures, a patient with viral exanthema may be recommended:

Carrying out echocardiography.
Performing electroencephalography.
Performing a chest x-ray.
Conducting an ophthalmological examination using a slit lamp.

A full diagnosis can be done in absolutely any diagnostic center or in a modern children's clinic.

How many days is viral exanthema contagious? It is important to remember that after the appearance of the rash, the virus is not detected in the secretions of the nasopharynx and blood, so patients are contagious only in the period before the appearance of the rash.

Pseudorubella

The outdated name of the disease is the sixth disease. Sudden exanthema is also called infantile roseola. Pathology is provoked by damage to herpes viruses of the sixth and seventh types. The route of infection is contact, airborne droplets. Adults do not suffer from this type of exanthema. It is typical for children over two years old.

The asymptomatic two-week stage is replaced by hyperthermia, lasting up to a week. There is intoxication, the lymph nodes in the neck and back of the head enlarge, the eyelids turn red and swell. Once the temperature returns to normal, a viral rash activates. It covers the body, and then the neck, arms, legs, face, most often, remains unaffected.

Pinkish spots and bubbles up to five millimeters in size with a white border disappear after five days. In general, the child feels satisfactory. It is imperative to rule out an allergy, as its symptoms are similar.

You are more likely to get sick during transition seasons. Those who have suffered sudden exanthema develop lifelong immunity. However, it is possible to infect a baby - the mother can transmit the pathogen in utero, since the virus remains inactive in the blood for life.

Difficulties in the course of the disease can cause disruptions in the functioning of the immune system.

Classification of pathology

Exanthems are systematized according to the following characteristics:

Types of rash - papules (nodules), vesicles (vesicles), pustules (purulent formations), scales.
Sizes – small – up to two millimeters, medium – up to five, large – more than 5 mm.
Shape – regular (round), irregular.
The number of rashes is single (up to 10 pieces), rare (can be counted), numerous.

Classification of exanthema based on etiology:

Sudden. Often occurs in infants due to viral infection. Children who have recovered from the disease receive lifelong immunity.
Medicinal. The result of an allergic reaction to the use of drugs, often develops in adults.
Infectious . Appears when exposed to viruses, parasites, bacteria. May occur with immune disorders in the body.

Sudden exanthema

This pathology is considered a separate infection. It is called: roseola infantum, pseudorubella, sixth disease in children. Sudden exanthema affects newborns and occurs in children under three years of age.

The disease is caused by herpes virus type 6. Roseola in adults appears as an allergy to drug components.

Sudden exanthema in a child is characterized by rapid development. Pediatricians do not always have time to make the correct diagnosis - the rash goes away on its own within six days. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

A sharp rise in temperature to 40C.
Symptoms of intoxication are weakness, tearfulness, refusal to eat, drowsiness, vomiting.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Pulsation of the fontanel in newborns.
Cramps.

Children's roseola is characterized by the absence of a runny nose and cough. The following features of the rash are noted:

no itching;
pink spots up to five millimeters in diameter;
lightening of the rash when pressed;
no merging of spots into a single array is observed.

Medicinal

This form of the disease is caused by increased sensitivity to the components of medications. The pathology is accompanied by redness of the skin, malaise, increased temperature, and a drop in blood pressure. You can cope with medicinal exanthema in a few days. It is necessary to discontinue the drug that provoked the pathology and take antihistamines.

Drug exanthema rashes can be in the form of skin redness, spots, vesicles, papules and pustules. Their nature depends on the drugs used, for example:

Antibiotics, antipyretic drugs - red or pink spots with an irregular shape, with a tendency to form large areas of damage.
Penicillin, anti-tuberculosis drugs - small pinpoint rash.

Infectious exanthema

The peculiarity of this type of pathology is rashes on the skin of the body, feet, hands, and face. Symptoms on the mucous membranes are very rarely observed. Infectious exanthema has the following etiology:

Bacterial diseases - scarlet fever, meningococcal sepsis, streptoderma, borreliosis, erysipelas. The pathologies are characterized by severe course, fever, the rash has a diffuse form (affects the whole body).
Viral diseases are caused by various types of viruses.
Helminthic pathologies are caused by toxins produced by parasites. Rarely seen.

Skin rashes due to viral infection

The activity of pathogens is often associated with the time of year:

In autumn and winter, diseases caused by influenza virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus are observed.
In summer, intestinal pathologies provoked by enterovirus predominate.
Do not depend on time: herpes, herpes zoster, chicken pox, rubella, infectious mononucleosis, measles.

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Viral exanthema is characterized by the following symptoms:

Rash accompanied by itching. The appearance depends on the type of infectious agent.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Cough (with unilateral laterothoracic exanthema).
Fever.
Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes).
Moody, tearfulness.
Lack of appetite.
Drowsiness, lethargy.

Enteroviral skin lesions

Exanthema caused by viruses that disrupt the functions of the gastrointestinal tract is one of the most common. The pathology is also called Boston fever. Enteroviral exanthema is accompanied by the following clinical picture:

papules up to three millimeters, with a tendency to suppurate;
diffuse skin lesions;
body temperature up to 39C;
blistering rash near the lips;
pain when swallowing;
chills;
vomit;
diarrhea.

Infectious mononucleosis

Almost all people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus. The peak incidence in children is observed around the age of six and during puberty. This is an acute infection caused by human herpesvirus type 4. It takes a couple of weeks to two months for symptoms to appear.

These include fever, inflammation of the tonsils, swelling of the lymph nodes, hepato- and splenomegaly, growth of lymphocytes and virocytes in the peripheral blood. The symptomatic picture is complemented by a swollen face and eyelids, sometimes the rash is located on the oral mucosa.

Rashes on the epidermis are various: in the form of dots, as in scarlet fever, in the form of spots and tubercles, urticaria, hemorrhagic. They appear a couple of weeks after the onset of the disease and disappear after ten days. Recovery occurs after 28 days.

The main non-infectious causes of rash and fever in children

Rash from insect bites

Children often develop small itchy pimples on their bodies - marks from bites of mosquitoes, bedbugs, and some midges. The baby’s immune system reacts to the entry of a foreign substance into the body, causing an itchy rash and a slight increase in temperature.

Rashes are found on open areas of the body and cause discomfort to the baby. The child combs the bite sites, thereby spreading the process more deeply. A microbial infection can attach to damaged skin, causing an inflammatory reaction, worsening the baby’s condition. Therefore, it is important to determine the cause of the rash in time and take the necessary measures.

Insect bites are supported by the location of the rash - the baby's arms, legs and face. Usually these are single, very itchy pimples. Upon careful questioning of the mother, the doctor often learns that the family has recently been outdoors without taking appropriate preventive measures.

Toxic substances that insects spray into the blood can increase body temperature, this is often observed with the bites of wasps, bees, and hornets. If a baby is prone to allergies, his body reacts more sharply to foreign substances, causing a pronounced general and local reaction to the bite of any insect.

To help the baby, you need to treat the affected areas with special means - “Fenistil-gel” or “Psilobalm”. If the general symptoms are significantly expressed, it is worth using antiallergic and antipyretic drugs.

Allergic diseases

Although hypersensitivity reactions do not often cause fever in adults, this symptom does occur in children. The most common allergic diseases that may cause an increase in body temperature include:

acute urticaria.

This disease is characterized by the appearance of a rash that looks similar to a burn from the nettle herb, which is where the disease got its name. Rashes in the form of itchy blisters appear suddenly throughout the body. Often urticaria is combined with an increase in temperature up to 39°C, weakness, and severe discomfort. Sometimes the disease leads to bronchospasm, facial swelling and anaphylaxis.

The appearance of rashes in infants is usually associated with the introduction of new foods into the diet. Citrus fruits, nuts, cow's milk, and seafood pose a danger to children. In children over 2 years of age, urticaria may accompany an infectious disease or helminthic infestation. In such cases, it can be difficult to determine what initially caused the fever; a careful medical history and examination of the child is required.

Urticaria is a dangerous condition, especially if the disease is accompanied by edema. The appearance of swelling on the face, cheeks, eyelids, lips requires immediate hospitalization of the child in a hospital.

drug allergy.

When using certain medications, hypersensitivity may develop with an increase in body temperature. Most often, babies react to antibiotics, some anti-inflammatory and cytostatic drugs. This condition is also called “drug fever.”

After 3–4 days from the start of taking the medicine, the baby’s body temperature rises, reaching 39–40°C, and a rash appears on the body. During a detailed examination of the child in a blood test, the doctor notices an increase in the level of eosinophils, and the mother talks about the treatment being carried out for the baby. All this indicates the allergic nature of the disease. Manifestations of the disease disappear when the ill-fated medicine is discontinued.

serum sickness.

It is possible to develop a delayed allergic reaction to the administration of a drug that contains proteins of animal origin - vaccine, serum, blood product, hormones. In this case, rashes first appear at the site of drug administration, and after the incubation period, after 7–14 days, urticaria appears and body temperature rises to 38–39 °C.

Serum sickness is not limited to the appearance of a rash and fever. In addition, the disease is accompanied by damage to the joints, cardiovascular, urinary, nervous and other systems of the body.

reaction to the vaccine.

Fever often occurs as a reaction of the baby’s immune system to the administration of the vaccine. If the temperature rises moderately after vaccination, and the baby’s condition is not affected, then there is nothing to worry about. Usually such manifestations persist for 48 hours and disappear without a trace.

When the vaccine against measles, rubella and mumps is administered, in addition to fever, rashes and catarrhal manifestations often occur - runny nose, lacrimation, slight cough. These symptoms appear 4–15 days after vaccination and soon go away on their own. Such symptoms are not complications, but are associated with the effect of the live vaccine.

Viral exanthems

When a child’s body is infected with a virus, the rash associated with exanthema is similar to the measles-like rash caused by taking medications.

The following can cause reddish blisters and spots on the skin:

influenza pathogens, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses in the cold season;
intestinal viruses in the warm season;
viruses of the herpetic family year-round.

Enteroviruses appear on the epidermis as a scattering of hard papules over almost the entire surface of the body; there are signs of poisoning by viral waste products.

Rotavirus causes raised pinkish spots that merge with each other.

With adenovirus, there is itching, inflammation of the eye cornea and conjunctiva.

Papular acrodermatitis in children looks like random blisters that tend to merge. Viral exanthema is also indicated by enlarged lymph nodes that do not hurt. The disease usually resolves within five days.

Treatment of exanthema

Exanthema can go away on its own, without medical intervention, in 1-2 weeks, so its treatment is always purely symptomatic. What manifestations of the disease should you get rid of first? As a rule, infected babies suffer from:

increased body temperature;
swelling;
skin itching (occurs rarely).

Manifestations of exanthema are eliminated with medication or using traditional methods. Let's consider both options in more detail.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for exanthema usually lasts no more than 5 days. The treatment regimen is as follows:

Problem	Medicine	Reception schedule
Increased body temperature, fever	Antipyretics: Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Nimesulide	Situationally, 1 tablet crushed and dissolved in water to reduce fever (but no more than 3 times a day)
Swelling	Antihistamines: Zodac, Zyrtec, Suprastin (see also: Zodac or Zyrtec: which drug is better for children?)	1 tablet 3 times a day during the first 5 days of illness
Rash	Skin ointment for external use: Elokom, La-Cri, Fenistil	2-3 times a day for 5 days from the moment the rash appears (the products are applied in a thin layer only to the affected areas of the skin)

If the treatment is effective, the medications help, the rashes on the child’s skin begin to gradually fade, the temperature stops “jumping,” and the child’s health improves. Full recovery occurs suddenly - usually this occurs 10 days after the start of the course or earlier.

In some cases, symptomatic therapy may be insufficient. In severe cases of the disease, with the permission of the doctor, parents can also give the child antiviral drugs, for example, Arbidol or Anaferon. Both drugs are taken 2 times a day, morning and evening, the course of treatment is 5 days.

Treatment with folk remedies

Traditional medicine will be a good alternative to taking medications. What home remedies will help improve the well-being of children with exanthema?

Chamomile infusion will help tone the body. 1 tbsp. Dried flowers of the plant are poured with boiling water (you will need about a glass of water). The liquid is infused for at least 2 hours, after which it is filtered. Take half a glass of chamomile in the morning and evening.

Potato juice will help cope with the rash. To prepare it, peeled raw tubers are passed through a grater and the resulting pulp is squeezed through cheesecloth. The product is used externally and applied only to affected areas of the skin.

Instead of rubbing with potatoes, you can give your child celandine baths. To prepare the decoction, take 1 tbsp. herbs per glass of boiling water. Before drinking, the liquid should be infused for an hour. After this, the broth can be filtered and added to the water prepared for bathing. You should take celandine baths for 20 minutes 3-4 times a week. In this case, getting rid of the rash and reducing swelling are guaranteed.

Enteroviral exanthema

A number of intestinal viruses provoke diarrhea in children, inflammation of the parenchyma of the brain and spinal cord, intestinal mucosa, stomach, and respiratory organs. The condition is characterized by a jump in temperature above thirty-nine degrees, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, cephalalgia, myalgia, the body is randomly covered with rashes. They often coexist with fever.

The nature of the rash can be described as:

symmetrically located elastic convex nodules with a diameter of a centimeter or more;
small bubbles less than three millimeters with a red center;
spots with rupture of small capillaries, they do not disappear under pressure, do not itch, are flat, and can become inflamed.

Based on the nature of the manifestations, one can distinguish, in fact, enteroviral exanthema and hand-foot-mouth rash syndrome. There is morbilliform exanthema; roseoloform and generalized enteroviral exanthema. A special case is considered to be a pathology that affects the rash of the arms, legs, tissues around the mouth and in the oral cavity. Children up to ten years of age are susceptible to it, but infections also occur in adults.

Symptoms appear as early as six days after infection. This is an insignificant temperature, slight weakness, and there may be intestinal and respiratory problems. Inside the mouth, red spots appear on the mucous membrane, then they turn into hard nodules, burst, turning into ulcers. Then, most often, a similar rash covers the surface of the skin of the arms, legs, and sometimes in the buttock, groin, and facial areas. After ten days, the disease goes away on its own.

As we have seen, the manifestation of exanthems on the epidermis is a very common phenomenon. This symptom requires the attention of parents and pediatricians.

Types of exanthema

There are the following types of viral exanthema:

Sudden - not so long ago, doctors called this exanthema “six-day disease”, since sudden exanthema completely disappears in a child in 6 days. Now this term is no longer used, and pediatricians make a diagnosis - infantile roseola, 3-day fever, pseudorubella.
Viral - resembles a measles-like drug rash.
Boston exanthema - this pathology appears in a child during ECHO infection; it is caused by 4,9,5,12,18,16 strains of ECHO viruses, and sometimes the Coxsackie virus. Pathogens enter the baby's body through nutritional or airborne droplets; in some cases, infection occurs in utero. According to scientists, Boston exanthema actively develops with the lymphogenous spread of viral agents.
Drug exanthema - provoked by taking antibiotics, manifests itself in the form of papules and blisters on the skin.

According to severity, viral exanthema is divided into:

Mild - there are few rashes on the body, the temperature is normal or rises to 37.5 degrees.
Moderate - the rash covers most of the body, the temperature is about 38 degrees, it is reduced by antipyretics.
Severe - in this case, the child is hospitalized, the rash will spread not only over the surface of the skin, but can be observed in the oral cavity and on the mucous membranes of the genitals. The child's condition is serious, the temperature rises to critical levels.

Diagnostics

It will help to improve the understanding of such a phenomenon as exanthema, photo. Examples of real symptoms can be found on the Internet. But for an accurate diagnosis you need to go to the hospital. Special tests will give clarity and help begin treatment.

Among the tools for determining the type of exanthema are the following:

A blood test reveals a decrease in the number of leukocytes and an increase in the number of lymphocytes.
Serological tests for the presence of immunoglobulins to certain viruses.
Checking for other infections: rubella, otitis media, meningitis, measles, bacterial pneumonia, sepsis.

Diagnostic methods

Despite the fact that the disease occurs quite often in children, this disease is rarely diagnosed. The reason is that the symptoms of exanthema disappear in a matter of days, and doctors simply do not have time to diagnose it. However, if the baby has a severe fever and rash, then consultation with a pediatrician and an infectious disease specialist is necessary.

During a visual examination, the doctor examines the specks of the rash. In a baby suffering from sudden exanthema, the papules on the skin disappear when pressed; in case of a viral illness, there is no reaction to pressure. If the lighting is bright enough, you will notice that the elements of the rash rise slightly above the skin.

A blood test is also performed (during exanthema, the number of leukocytes decreases). The doctor must carry out differential diagnosis. This helps determine the type of disease and choose the right tactics on how best to treat the baby. Differential diagnosis of exanthema involves the exclusion or confirmation of the following pathologies:

measles (we recommend reading: symptoms of measles in children with photos and detailed descriptions);
infectious mononucleosis (we recommend reading: how is mononucleosis treated in children?);
idiopathic infection;
rubella;
scarlet fever (we recommend reading: all the signs of scarlet fever in children with photos);
allergies associated with viral infections.

Therapeutic measures

The nuances of treatment tactics depend on the source of infection. Treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating symptoms while the body itself fights the pathogen. The age factor and the intensity of the pathology are taken into account.

It is important for children to stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take antipyretics if they have a fever. Maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity level at home. Avoid direct sunlight. Infants should be offered breast milk containing immunoglobulins more often.

For chickenpox, the rash is disinfected with an antiseptic solution. In complicated cases, steroid hormones may be prescribed. For herpetic etiology of the disease, an antiviral drug is taken that is effective against herpes viruses. It is extremely rare that an allergy with itching sensations is associated with the disease. In this case, histamine blockers are indicated.

While your baby is showered, keep him apart. You can, in consultation with your doctor, take warm baths with herbal infusions of marigolds, chamomile flowers, celandine, and fir oil. Careful hygiene and reasonable support will help the baby get stronger and overcome the virus.

How many days does it take for children to have an allergic rash?

The speed of recovery depends on many factors: the duration of contact with the irritant, the degree of skin damage, the presence of complications, etc. In some cases (for example, when exposed to cold), the rash disappears quickly.

Food allergies in the initial stage in a child under one year old disappear in 2-5 days (subject to immediate elimination of the allergen from the diet).

Uncomplicated dermatitis or urticaria is cured in 7-10 days.

Childhood eczema or neurodermatitis can be cured in 2 weeks, but often these diseases become chronic.

Disease danger level

The herpes virus is always dangerous due to its complications, but only if the immune system is very weak. This is indicated by frequent relapses of diseases. In this case, the attending physician may prescribe immunomodulatory drugs, the course duration of which may vary.

If VG 6 does not manifest itself in any way, this does not mean that it is absent in the body. Human antibodies can suppress the effect of the virus.

If infection occurs, the disease occurs with characteristic symptoms. Then follows a natural recovery, the body develops a stable immunity to Roseola.

Doctors say that exanthema is not dangerous. It does not cause any complications for the human body with normal immunity. For children, complications may include dehydration, disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, convulsions during fever - the high temperature lasts up to 3 days. By the way, this is why exanthema is also called three-day fever.

For people with HIV, this type 6 herpes virus is dangerous, since the consequences of infection can be dire:

meningitis;
pneumonia;
encephalitis;
myocarditis;
keratitis.

There are cases that pediatricians do not diagnose exanthema at all. Everything is attributed to an allergic reaction of unknown origin or ARVI. Only after a long time can a person find out that he once had Roseola by the presence of specific immunoglobulins in the blood.

Boston fever

Enteroviral exanthema also has a second name: Boston exanthema or Boston fever. The causative agent of the disease is the coxsackie and esno viruses. They enter the human body through the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and digestive tract. Cases of infection through food products have been reported.

At the site of the entry gate of the virus, manifestations of the disease in the form of pharyngitis, herpetic sore throat or acute respiratory infections are possible. Tissues of the nervous system, epithelial and muscle cells are susceptible to the virus. After the disease, immunity remains in relation to the virus that caused the disease.

The disease is most dangerous for pregnant women, as there is a high probability of intrauterine damage to the fetus. The disease during pregnancy contributes to the appearance of malformations and further delays in physical or mental development.

What should you not try to treat the disease?

Often patients try to prescribe treatment for themselves on their own. In order to avoid further spread of inflammatory processes, people begin to be treated with antibiotics. It is necessary to understand that antibacterial drugs are completely incapable of destroying viruses. They act exclusively on bacteria. In a number of situations, when a patient has a severe form of viral exanthema, the doctor actually prescribes antibiotics, but in any case, it is impossible to select them without consulting a therapist.

How to treat viral exanthema is of interest to many patients.

In addition, it is undesirable to use corticosteroids during the treatment of enteroviral exanthema. Such medications negatively affect the general state of the entire immune system, and in addition, the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Normally, steroid therapy should be delayed until the patient’s body begins to produce the necessary antibodies against the enterovirus. It is in this regard that when a skin rash appears, it is necessary to seek medical help and take blood tests. Otherwise, you can harm yourself.

Measles

The cause of measles is infectious agents belonging to the paramyxovirus family. Erythema in this case occurs on the 4-5th day of the disease. Before the appearance of skin rashes, the patient develops a dry cough, the body temperature rises, and febrile conditions are observed.

The appearance of exanthema is preceded by the formation of gray-white spots on the mucous membranes of the cheeks. Initially, rashes appear on the face and neck. Viral exanthema has the appearance of papules, which often merge with each other. Gradually, rashes cover the entire body. As the rash spreads to the hands and feet, the rashes on the neck and face begin to disappear. With measles, exanthema does not appear on the soles and palms.

Clinical picture

The incubation period of exanthema of viral origin lasts 4-16 days. There is an increase in body temperature, which remains at a fairly high level for 4 days. As a result of intoxication, exhaustion of the body is observed, which affects the general condition of the baby. The child becomes lethargic, loses appetite and interest in what is happening around him, sleep disturbances and attacks of nausea are observed.

After the temperature drops, a rash appears on the skin, at the same time enlarged lymph nodes are palpated, and redness of the eyes is observed. A characteristic feature of exanthema is that pressing on the affected areas leads to their discoloration. When the pressure stops, the rash appears again. The appearance of elements of the rash does not entail the appearance of itching, the only exception being chicken pox.

Be sure to consult a doctor in the following cases:

pressure on the elements of the rash does not lead to their disappearance;
the affected areas of the body itch;
The child’s condition deteriorates significantly, vomiting, digestive disorders and an increase in temperature to high levels appear.

The pathological process is characterized by an extremely rapid course. Observational data indicate that the rash is not accompanied by a runny nose, coughing and sneezing, even in conditions of fluctuations in body temperature. Infants may experience frequent beating of the fontanel.

Body temperature drops slightly in the morning. It must be remembered that high levels can provoke seizures. They do not have a negative effect on the nervous system and disappear after the temperature drops.

Sudden exanthema is diagnosed in childhood. The appearance of such symptoms in an adult may indicate a rather dangerous pathology, so it is not recommended to neglect a visit to the doctor.

Photo of a rash in a child with explanations

There are a number of pathologies accompanied by the appearance of pathological formations on the skin in the form of vesicles, pimples, papules, vesicles and other manifestations. Let's look at common diseases that occur in childhood.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic disease that occurs in children from infancy. Pathology occurs in patients with a hereditary predisposition to atopy. Various factors provoke this condition. Among them are:

genetic predisposition;
disruption of metabolic processes in the dermis;
imperfection of the immune system;
maternal malnutrition during pregnancy;
the effect of various irritants on the child’s skin.

Symptoms of the disease include redness of the dermis. Localization of the rash is observed on skin folds, legs, arms, and torso. The disease is diagnosed mainly in children under one year of age.

In the photo you can see what atopic dermatitis looks like in a child

Treatment of pathology is carried out comprehensively. In this case, medications, traditional methods, and preventive measures prescribed by a dermatologist are used.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Dermatitis of this type is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process in the scalp area. The pathology is caused by fungal microorganisms from the genus Malassezia furfur. Under the influence of their vital activity, symptoms characteristic of the disease appear on the child’s skin. These include:

dry dermis;
the appearance of yellow crusts on the head, forehead, and in the area of the ears (gneiss);
itching and peeling;
redness of the dermis.

What seborrhea looks like in the photo can be seen below

Treatment of the disease is carried out under medical supervision using exfoliating, anti-inflammatory, and emollient agents.

Diaper dermatitis

From the name it is clear that this type of rash appears in babies with prolonged contact with irritants such as urine and feces. The cause of the disease is improper care or insufficient hygiene. A rash can also be caused by poor-quality underwear or diapers.

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The danger of diaper dermatitis is that if not treated in a timely manner, the baby may develop ulcers and erosions in the genital area. Often a bacterial infection occurs, which significantly complicates treatment.

Diaper dermatitis in the photo

Stages of diaper dermatitis

Treatment of the rash is carried out by observing the rules of hygiene, using anti-inflammatory, emollient, disinfecting creams, and herbal baths.

Contact dermatitis

This type of allergic reaction occurs in children due to irritation of the dermis by various factors (seams on clothing, scratches, cosmetics, and so on).

Rash with contact dermatitis in the photo

Treatment of the disease is carried out exclusively by eliminating the irritant. If the factors that provoke rashes are not removed, any hygiene products and medications will be ineffective.

Acne in a child

Acne occurs in children at any age. There are quite a few reasons for inflammation. Among them are allergic reactions, the influence of mechanical damage, bacteria, hormonal imbalance and metabolic processes in the body.

There are several types of acne. These include papules, pink or red spots, ulcers, and vesicles. Acne can be localized throughout the body. Most often they occur on the face, chest, back, and buttocks.

Photo of acne in a child

Treatment is carried out depending on the cause that provoked this condition. To find out, you should show the baby to a dermatologist and undergo the necessary laboratory tests.

Chicken pox

Chickenpox or varicella is a viral disease that occurs most often in childhood. The disease is highly contagious and is transmitted by airborne droplets. After suffering from chickenpox, the body develops lifelong immunity.

Chickenpox symptoms:

high temperature (38-39 °C);
general deterioration of health;
the appearance of rashes on the dermis;
severe skin itching.

The peak temperature coincides with the massive appearance of a rash in a child. Pimples spread throughout the body. Red spots appear first. Later, bubbles filled with liquid form. After a few days, the liquid becomes cloudy and ulcers form.

Photo of a rash with chickenpox in a child

Treatment consists of using disinfectants to treat rashes, lowering the temperature, and maintaining good hygiene.

Herpes

Herpetic infection in children has several varieties. The most common rash on the lips is caused by the herpes simplex virus. At the same time, the general condition of the child is not disturbed, temperature indicators remain within normal limits.

The second type of herpes simplex is medically called genital. The rash is localized in the genital area. The disease is easily transmitted to children from their parents or people around them. The danger of genital herpes lies in the risk of developing herpetic sore throat and stomatitis.

Photo of herpes on a child's lips

Genital herpes

The fight against rashes of this nature is carried out by increasing immunity and using antiviral agents. Typically, pediatricians prescribe Zovirax, Acyclovir and other drugs for herpetic infections.

Eczema

Eczema is an acute reaction of the body to various allergens and other provoking factors. The clinical picture of the disease is the appearance of rashes of various etiologies on the skin. The following types of eczema are distinguished:

coin-shaped;
weeping;
viral;
bacterial;
microbial;
herpetiform;
seborrheic.

With a mild pathology, several spots may appear on the child’s skin. The general condition of the baby is not disturbed. A severe course is accompanied by a deterioration in health, the formation of an extensive rash, and sometimes an increase in temperature.

Photos of eczema in children

Treatment depends on the triggering factor of the disease. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate all irritants. In addition, disinfecting, softening, exfoliating, regenerating, and immunostimulating agents are used.

Erythema toxicum

This concept refers to the body’s reaction to the influence of various factors in the form of the formation of extensive rashes on the skin. This happens due to the expansion of capillaries due to exposure to allergens. In children after birth, the disease is called erythema toxicum of the newborn.

Photos of rashes with toxic erythema

Symptoms:

red spots on the dermis, reminiscent of irritation after insect bites;
upon palpation, a tubercle is felt in the middle of the pimple;
the rash is localized on the face, legs, arms, chest and other parts of the body;
the baby becomes capricious and restless;
with extensive damage to the dermis, the body temperature will rise.

New rashes appear within a few days. After this, the symptoms of erythema begin to subside. Often the pathology has a recurrent form.

Treatment consists of eliminating the allergen that provokes pathological changes in the skin, as well as symptomatic therapy with antihistamines, painkillers, and disinfectants.

Erythema infectiosum

Paravirus B19 is considered to be the causative agent of erythema infectiosum. After surviving the disease, a person develops lifelong immunity. In a typical course, a child in the initial stages of the disease develops a slight malaise, and the temperature, as a rule, rises slightly. Later, a slap-shaped rash forms on the cheeks. Later, the rashes spread to other parts of the body. The palms and soles remain unaffected.

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Photo of erythema infectiosum

The photo shows that the main location of the rash is on the cheeks. Smaller lesions spread throughout the body. Parvovirus infection in children is treated by maintaining bed rest, using antipyretic drugs, and drinking plenty of fluids. To prevent the addition of a secondary infection, disinfecting solutions are used to treat rashes.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a purulent skin lesion that occurs in the form of single or multiple inflammations. The causes of pyoderma in children include:

viral, bacterial, parasitic lesions of the body;
hot and humid climate;
increased sweating;
swimming in dirty water;
liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, weakened immunity;
wearing clothes made of synthetic materials.

The disease can be recognized by pimples that have a purulent filling. In severe cases, the patient experiences pain, itching, and the lymph nodes may become enlarged.

Pimples with white filling due to folliculitis can be seen in the photo

Treatment for folliculitis depends on its severity. For small formations, it is enough to keep the baby’s skin clean and use mild cosmetics to cleanse it. Medical assistance consists of opening the area of suppuration and treating the pimple with disinfecting solutions.

In case of viral, fungal or bacterial infection of the dermis, treatment of the underlying disease is required.

Hives

In childhood, urticaria develops as a response of the body to various external or internal factors. More often, the disease occurs due to the penetration of allergens (food, toxic compounds, medications, etc.) into the body. Less commonly, a rash develops due to internal pathologies in a child (blood disorders, diseases of internal organs).

Photo of hives

The rash in the disease is extensive, rises above the surface of healthy skin, tends to merge

Treatment is carried out with antihistamines. Diazolin, Erius, Citrine, Tavegil have proven themselves well. Cool compresses and baths with anti-inflammatory herbs (chamomile, thyme, string) help relieve itching and relieve swelling.

Impetigo

This concept refers to skin lesions in the form of purulent pimples with a diameter of 3-5 mm, provoked by staphylococci and streptococci. There is no itching or burning. The duration of the disease is approximately 10 days. After this, the skin cleanses itself and no marks remain on it.

Impetigo in the photo

To alleviate the condition of the skin, drying and disinfecting agents are used. In addition, the patient is prescribed an anti-allergenic diet and immunostimulating drugs during illness.

Impetigo rashes should never be wetted with water. This can trigger new rashes on other areas of the skin.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by high body temperature and damage to the visual and respiratory organs. Measles rash is characterized by the appearance of red pimples all over the body, including the mucous membrane of the mouth. The danger of the pathology lies in the development of serious complications in young children or those with weakened immune systems.

Measles rash in photo

In the following picture you can see the dynamics of rashes during the disease

Treatment is symptomatic. In this case, the doctor prescribes antipyretic, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and other medications. Diet and adherence to a daily routine are important. Antibiotics are not used for measles, since the disease is viral in nature. Read more about the disease.

Scarlet fever

The disease is provoked by group A streptococci and is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, a general disturbance of the condition and the formation of a small rash throughout the body. Rashes appear in the patient on the 2-3rd day of illness, affecting the cheeks, groin, and sides of the body. The nasolabial triangle is pale and remains unaffected.

The tongue at the beginning of the disease has a red tint and a pronounced granular structure (scarlet tongue). On days 10-14, the skin begins to peel off. On the fingers and toes, the peeling is large-plate in nature. In the throat there are purulent lesions caused by streptococcus.

Rash with scarlet fever in the photo

This photo shows a rash on the tongue

Scarlet fever is treated with the use of antibacterial drugs, antipyretics, and local sanitizing agents. Physiotherapy has proven itself well.

Currently, there is no vaccination against scarlet fever. The disease is highly treatable with modern antibiotics.

Rubella

Rubella is a viral disease that causes a rash throughout the patient's body. It is often called the third disease, since at the time when the list of diseases accompanied by the appearance of pinpoint rashes was compiled, rubella was in third place.

Signs of rubella:

general disturbance of health;
increase in body temperature up to 38°C;
redness in the mouth;
nasal congestion;
enlarged lymph nodes;
redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

The rash occurs due to the virus attacking small blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin (hemorrhagic rash).

In the photo you can see rubella rashes

Therapy of the disease is carried out with the help of antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and steroid drugs. Treatment of young children is carried out in a hospital setting, since the pathology is often accompanied by complications.

Rubella is especially dangerous during pregnancy. Congenital forms of the disease are often incompatible with life for a newborn.

Meningitis

With meningitis, the nature of the rash will depend on the infectious agent (streptococcal, staphylococcal, herpes type of disease). The appearance of skin lesions in this disease develops rapidly. In most cases, skin rashes are accompanied by a bacterial or meningococcal type of meningitis.

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Meningitis rash

Treatment of meningitis depends on the causative agent of the disease and is carried out strictly in a hospital setting. Due to the fact that meningitis is caused by various fungal, bacterial and viral pathologies, damage to the dermis can be of a different nature.

For a more detailed description of meningitis, read this article.

Enterovirus rash

With an enterovirus infection, a rash in the form of small bright red spots with a diameter of 2-4 mm may appear on the child’s dermis. Their localization is different. They can occur on the feet, hands, face, groin, cheeks and chin, and throughout the body. Sometimes pimples appear in the form of blisters filled with liquid.

Photos of skin lesions due to enterovirus infection in a child

Associated signs of the disease:

increased body temperature;
nausea;
vomit;
diarrhea;
stomach ache;
headache.

Enterovirus infection should be treated as prescribed by a doctor. It is important to prevent dehydration of the body. A similar clinical picture is observed with rotavirus infection. Read more about rotavirus here.

Similar rashes are caused by the Coxsackie virus. You can find out more about it in this article.

Roseola

This disease is caused by members of the herpes family. Pathology develops mainly before the age of two years. The clinical picture of the disease includes the following symptoms:

increased body temperature;
on the second or third day after a high temperature, a small rash in the form of red spots appears on the baby’s body;
sometimes there is an enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
after rashes, peeling and age spots appear on the body.

You can see what roseola looks like in the photo.

Spread of rashes

No special treatment is required for roseola, as with other viral diseases. The child should be provided with comfortable conditions, given plenty of water, and given antipyretics in a timely manner.

Infectious mononucleosis

This concept refers to an acute viral disease that provokes damage to the throat, tonsils, enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes, as well as causing changes in the composition of the blood.

Rash due to infectious mononucleosis in a photo of a child

The clinical picture is accompanied by pronounced redness of the skin, which indicates severe intoxication of the body. The rashes look like goosebumps. The pathology is treated symptomatically, depending on the severity of the patient’s symptoms. The photo shows a rash of moderate severity.

Rashes due to giardiasis

With worms, a child may have a rash of a very different nature. It all depends on the characteristics of the body and its immune system. Typically, manifestations on the body look like small pimples. They can appear on a variety of parts.

Photo of a rash due to helminthic infestations

Treatment of parasitic infections is carried out with the help of drugs such as Vormil, Pirantel and others. The remedies are selected exclusively by the doctor. Treatment of children under two years of age with the help of medications is extremely rare due to the high toxicity of such medications.

Miliaria rash

Due to the heat, direct contact with the sun on the skin and insufficient hygiene, the baby often develops heat rash on the body. In this case, small pinpoint formations appear on the body, which do not cause significant inconvenience to the child. This condition is provoked by profuse sweating in humans.

Heat rash in the photo

Treatment of this condition is carried out by maintaining good hygiene practices, frequent bathing and normalizing room temperatures. To cleanse the dermis as quickly as possible, drinking plenty of fluids is recommended. In severe cases, antihistamines are used.

Exanthems of an infectious nature

Doctors call the rash an exanthema. In dermatology, there are six types of infectious skin diseases. They are classified according to a certain numbering:

Measles is an RNA virus.
Scarlet fever is class A streptococcus.
Rubella (togavirus).
Chicken pox is herpes type 3 or 4.
Erythema (parvovirus B19).
Roseola infantile is herpes type 6 or 7.

All of the above diseases are considered acute, but a rash can appear both with infection and with diseases that are not caused by infection. In this case, exanthema manifests itself in different ways. For example, with chickenpox and scarlet fever it is always present, but with mononucleosis it may not be present.

Pustular lesions

Pustular lesions are common. They usually appear due to streptococci and staphylococci that are found in the environment:

The virus gets on clothes and then on the skin. With minor damage, such as a scratch, the virus can get inside. If the child has a good immune system, nothing will happen, but with a lack of vitamins, stress or disruption of the endocrine system, the following types of pyoderma may appear:

Folliculitis. Purulent lesion of the follicle or hair crown.
Furunculosis. Purulent-necrotic inflammation of folliculitis and the tissue around it. May become chronic.
Carbunculosis. Necrotic inflammation is red in color and hot to the touch. Affects a whole group of folliculitis. Has several rods with pus.
Hidradenitis. Purulent inflammation of the sweat gland in the armpits.
Impetigo. Purulent blistering rashes. Usually appear on the face and hands.
Dry streptoderma. Pink round spots that peel off. Later they are covered with scales. Usually appears on the face, back, limbs. After the spots disappear, temporary pigmentation will remain on the skin.
Ecthymas. Looks like an ulcer. It looks like a wound with a dry crust and a soft bottom where pus is located. The edges are raised. The size can exceed several centimeters.

If a child has one of the above diseases, in addition to antibacterial therapy, the following can be used:

Depending on the pathogen, purulent skin lesions are divided into 3 types:

Staphyloderma.
Streptoderma.
Streptostaphyloderma.

And the forms listed above can be deep or superficial.

Mycoses

Mycosis appears due to fungal infection. The type of disease depends on the type of fungus and the location of the lesion, for example, nails, scalp. Children are usually affected by the following:

Keratomycosis. In the center of the affected area there is pityriasis versicolor. It is formed in the follicles in the form of brown dots. They combine to form spots that develop into larger lesions.
Dermatophytosis. This is mycosis of the foot.
Athlete's foot. The fungus enters the body during visits to public places: swimming pools, gyms, showers.
Microsporia. Usually a person becomes infected from an animal.
Trichophytosis. A child can become infected from other children, while using clothes or toys of the sick person.
Favus. Usually affects the hair. Transmitted from sick to healthy.
Candidiasis. The source of the disease is yeast-like fungi. It manifests itself as stomatitis, affecting the lips and corners of the mouth.
Deep mycosis. Commonly found among travelers as it is common abroad.
Pseudomycosis. The causative agent is microorganisms that have taken over the functions of microbes and fungi. Rare disease.

To cure mycosis, you first need to establish a diagnosis. Everything is done on an individual basis. The doctor prescribes antifungal medications.

Parasites

The most common parasites in children are ticks and lice. Children are at great risk of becoming infected while attending schools and kindergartens. Let's look at the most common diseases:

Pediculosis. Caused by head lice. Parasites bite the host's skin, feeding on his blood. This causes a rash. Parasites lay eggs in a child's hair, which allows them to reproduce. Many people think that lice are transmitted from animals, but this is not true. Lice can only live on the human body.
Scabies. The source of infection is the scabies mite. It lives under the skin. To gain access to oxygen, mites make holes in the skin.
Demodicosis. Mites appeared in the hair follicles. The source of the disease is not the pests themselves, but the organisms with which they infect the sebaceous glands. Mites usually live inside healthy or oily skin.
Leishmaniasis cutaneous. The source is single-celled tourniquet parasites – Leishmania. The disease is rare in Russia, but it can be contracted in Asia and the Mediterranean. After the disease is cured, the child will have immunity.

Lesions are treated depending on the specifics of the organism, parasites and time of infection. Medicines are usually used against parasites.

Differential diagnosis of rash of infectious origin

	Hidden period	Symptoms	Rash			Period of infectiousness and vaccination
	Hidden period	Symptoms	View	Time and order of appearance	Footprints	Period of infectiousness and vaccination
Measles	10-12days	significant increase in temperature dry cough-conjunctivitis and photophobia rash due to high fever	Large maculopapular, bright, may merge	After 3-5 days of illness - behind the ears, along the hair. Then it goes down to the feet (in three days)	Bruising and peeling	4 days before the first rash and up to 5 days after it disappears. Vaccination - at 1 year, 6 years
Rubella	2-3 weeks	slight increase in temperature malaise - sometimes arthritis	Finely spotted, pale pink	On the first day of illness on the face, after 24-48 hours - throughout the body, disappears after 3 days.	Disappears without a trace	Contagiousness during the period of rash, a few days before and after it. Vaccination -12 months, 6 years
Scarlet fever	2-7 days	intoxication, fever-sore throat enlarged lymph nodes bright language	Fine-dot (1-2 mm), bright	Simultaneous rash, intense rash in the folds of the body. Pale nasolabial triangle.	Leaves peeling	contagiousness 10 days from the onset of symptoms, with streptococcus carriage - constant contagiousness
Infectious mononucleosis	Unknown	enlarged lymph nodes heat enlarged liver and spleen	Diverse in shape and size, does not always occur	On the 5-6th day of illness, sometimes later. More intense on the face, but also present on the body	Disappears without a trace	The virus is low infectivity and is transmitted more often through sharing utensils and kissing
Erythema infectiosum	4-28 days	malaise sometimes arthritis	Red spots	Red spots from the face spread to the entire body, especially to the extensor surfaces. Before disappearing, they take on the appearance of a ring with a white center.	Disappear for a long time, can reappear within 3 weeks under unfavorable conditions	Children are usually not contagious once the rash appears.
Sudden exanthema	5-15 days	sudden rise in temperature disappearance of fever after 3 days sometimes – sore throat	Fine spotted	The spots appear after the temperature on the body normalizes.	Disappears within a few hours or days without a trace	Infection most often occurs from adults who are carriers of herpes virus type 6
Chicken pox	10-21 days	malaise headache and stomach pain (sometimes) fever up to 38 degrees	Spots, papules, blisters and crusts.	The beginning is on the scalp, face, torso. Then it spreads to the whole body. Different elements of the rash are present simultaneously.	there are no traces, but if an infection occurs when scratching, scars may remain	48 hours before the rash appears and before crusts form on all elements (up to 2 weeks). It is planned to be included in the vaccination calendar in 2019.
Meningococcal sepsis	—	sharp deterioration in condition fever headache pain and vomiting confusion	From small bruises to extensive hemorrhages	More often - the lower limbs and torso.	Extensive hemorrhages can develop into ulcers and scars.	Throughout the illness

Author:

Evtushenko Anna Aleksandrovna obstetrician-gynecologist

Symptoms

Signs of infection depend on the patient's age. The disease is manifested by fever, irritability, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, runny nose, swelling of the eyelids, and diarrhea. The rash appears 12-24 hours after the temperature rises. The rash is localized on the neck, abdomen, back, and limbs. The skin becomes reddish and temporarily turns pale when pressed. The rash does not cause any inconvenience: it does not hurt or itch. These rashes are not contagious, disappear after 3-4 days and do not return. Older children develop symptoms such as high fever for several days, runny nose, and diarrhea. At older ages, the rash appears less frequently.

Diagnosis of the disease

How to recognize viral exanthema? This should be done by a pediatrician.

For urine tests, you can purchase special sterile jars at the pharmacy.

The diagnosis is as follows:

visual inspection;
blood test from a finger or vein. With this disease, the specialist will note a sharp decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood.
Analysis of urine;
cerebrospinal fluid puncture. The analysis is quite difficult to carry out, so it is taken only in case of a complex form of exanthema.

It is important! If you notice a rash on your child’s body, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Symptoms of the disease

After the virus enters the body, it attaches itself to cells. The process then goes as follows:

The incubation period begins, which lasts about a week. There are no symptoms, the person leads a normal lifestyle.
The temperature rises sharply, for no apparent reason . There are no other symptoms. The temperature can be 38 or 40 degrees.
During this period, a child or an adult (very rarely) feels overwhelmed, loses appetite, and becomes weak . Children under one to one and a half years old have a very difficult time coping with an emerging infection. They are whiny, demanding, even their mother cannot calm them down, they refuse to eat, fever and severe chills do not give them peace.
The cervical lymph nodes increase in size, they are painful when touched, and their palpation causes discomfort in the baby.
Discharge from the nose is clear and mucous.
The eyelids swell and a painful appearance appears.
Redness and looseness are observed on the posterior wall of the pharynx .
Red spots appear on the upper palate and tongue .
My eyes are watering .
The temperature increases by one more division, and can reach 41 degrees.
Three days after the temperature subsides, a characteristic exanthema rash (roseola) appears, very similar to rubella. Here the doctor makes the decision. A blood test is usually ordered to rule out rubella.
The most interesting thing is that the child, even at such a high temperature at which an adult cannot assume a vertical position, continues to play and be relatively active . That is, the baby simply does not feel it.
The condition more or less normalizes after a week.

It is amazing that recovery comes as suddenly as the illness came. Moreover, the symptoms disappear on their own. You just need to wait out this unpleasant moment and provide the patient with proper care and regimen.

Features of treatment

Treatment tactics are developed taking into account the severity of the disease. Mild forms are asymptomatic and do not require therapy. If a moderate infection is detected, the patient is prescribed:

compliance with bed rest;
balanced diet;
taking multivitamins;
drug therapy.

The drug regimen is developed in each specific case, taking into account the existing symptoms.

The following table shows the main components that can be used.

Medicines	Direction of impact	Goal of therapy	Drug names
Immunomodulators	Compensate for the body's defenses	A natural way to increase the content of interferon, a protein released by the body during the invasion of viruses. It helps prevent the active reproduction of the cellular parasite	Viferon, Nazoferon, Cycloferon
Antiviral drugs	Some prevent the process of releasing the viral genome from the protein shell, others block the process of viral RNA replication, and others suppress the assembly of viral particles in the cell cytoplasm	Suppress the reproduction and development of viruses at different stages of their formation	Kagocel, Remantadine
Immunostimulants	Stimulates body resistance and immune responses at the cellular level	Activate the functions of one part of the immune system. The use of immunostimulants helps the body produce its own interferons	Grippferon nasal drops, Kipferon rectal suppositories.
Antipyretics	Normalizes body temperature	They are prescribed when the body temperature rises to 38 degrees and lasts for several days. Taking an antipyretic drug helps prevent dehydration	Nurofen, Efferalgan, Ibufen D
Medicines that replenish water and electrolyte balance	Restore acid-base balance	Prevent dehydration	Oralit, Regidron, Glucosan
Enterosorbent drugs	Absorb toxic elements and remove them from the gastrointestinal tract	Accelerate the elimination of toxins and alleviate the general condition of the patient	Smecta, Enterogel, Atoxil
Probiotics	Normalizes bowel function	Restore beneficial microflora	Bifiform, Linex, Laktovit

Exanthema on the skin cannot be treated, and the rash disappears on its own after a couple of days. Elements of rashes on the mucous membrane must be treated with antiseptics. Miramistin or Hexoral sprays are best suited for these purposes. Inhalations with decoctions prepared from pharmaceutical chamomile and sage help well. To stimulate local immunity, “Lizobakt” or “Immudon” is used. If a bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics are prescribed.

Self-medication of enterovirus infection is unacceptable. Its development is accompanied by clinical manifestations that have similar features to the symptoms of other dangerous diseases. Therefore, consultation and prescription of a doctor are considered mandatory. Incorrect treatment can lead to complications.

Correct and effective methods for treating allergies

In order for the treatment of an allergic rash to be quick and effective, you must follow a simple algorithm:

The source that caused the rash is determined. You need to be examined by a specialist.
Having established the cause of the rash, it is urgent to limit contact with this object or product.