Lichen is a very common childhood illness. And this is not surprising - it is easily transmitted from other people or from animals, especially street animals, which the children love to pet. Therefore, the question of how to treat lichen in children is asked by many parents. Let's answer it!
What it is?
Before you learn how to cure lichen in a child, let's figure out what it is? Lichen is the name of various skin diseases caused by certain fungal and viral infections. Fungal nature is the most common.
Should I see a doctor?
If your child has been in contact with another baby who has this disease, do not rush to the doctor and ask how the lichen is treated in children - your child will not necessarily get sick. The likelihood of infection increases if there are predisposing factors. For example, a decrease in immunity, a moist and warm environment, excessive sweating and a malfunction in the endocrine system.
Before we get to how lichen is treated in children, you should familiarize yourself with the main varieties of this disease. Treatment depends on the type of lesion - fungal or viral.
Types of lichen
1. Shingles . The reason is the herpes virus. The name reflects the distinctive feature of the disease - a rash in the form of vesicles with fluid that encircles the chest of the child. The temperature rises, the rashes are painful.
How is lichen in children treated in this case? Antiviral drugs (Acyclovir), antihistamines (such as Suprastin), and antipyretics (such as Paracetamol) are prescribed. Frequent relapses are possible, since it is impossible to completely expel the herpes virus from the body, therefore it is necessary to strengthen the child's immunity.
2. Microsporia , mainly zoonotic, which affects both animals and people. This is the most common type of lichen, the source of infection in which are kittens or their toys. From child to child, the disease is not transmitted.
Clear contours of pink rashes, peeling appear on the 3-7th day after infection. If the focus is on the head, then breaking off the hair in the affected area will be observed. Lymph nodes usually swell.
Microsporia is treated with external antifungal drugs (for example, ointments "Clotrimazole", "Cyclopirox", "Isoconazole", "Bifonazole"). The foci once a day are lubricated with 2-5% tincture of iodine, and in the evening they are lubricated with the prescribed ointment.
3. Trichophytosis . The reason is a trichophyton fungus. Distinguish its types:
- trichophytosis of smooth skin - rashes of a rounded shape with peeling in the center and crusts and inflammation along the edges, itching;
- trichophytosis of the scalp - rashes described above, only on the scalp, hair over the damaged area breaks off;
- chronic trichophytosis - a consequence of improper treatment of the forms described above, can last for years and lead to damage to internal organs.
Trichophytosis is treated orally with Griseofulvin, and the affected areas are lubricated with antifungal ointments. In this case, it is important to strengthen the immune system in order to avoid relapse.
4. Multi-colored lichen (pityriasis). Infection with him occurs only with prolonged contact with the patient, so usually the whole family suffers from such deprivation.
The first signs of the disease are the appearance of pink spots on the back, stomach and shoulders, rarely in the groove and armpits. Then the spots turn brown, and the sun changes color to white. The peculiarity of this type of lichen in the large-plate peeling of the skin in the affected areas.
The treatment is long - up to two months. It is carried out by external antifungal ointments.
I would especially like to emphasize that only a doctor can prescribe the correct and effective treatment! It is strictly necessary to contact a pediatrician if you suspect that depriving a nursing infant!