Atopic dermatitis is an allergic reaction in a child's body. This condition is also called eczema. And every year there are more and more children with a history of allergic dermatitis.
What are the causes of atopic dermatitis?
First of all, atopic dermatitis occurs as a result of a genetic predisposition. Heredity is a decisive factor in this matter.
Genetic predisposition has been studied by doctors for many years, and now we can already say that if both parents suffer from hypersensitivity, then the risk of atopic dermatitis in a child is 80%. If only one parent has atopic dermatitis, then the probability of its occurrence in the child is 40%. If none of the parents suffered from atopic dermatitis, then the probability of its occurrence in a child is only 10%.
Also, the risk of atopic dermatitis depends on the increased sensitivity of the skin. Immunoglobulin E is responsible for the appearance of allergies in the child's body. Its increased concentration in the blood indicates the presence of an allergy to any factor. This indicator is passed from parent to child more often through the maternal line. The likelihood of paternal transmission of allergies is only 20%.
In addition to hereditary factors, external factors affect the possibility of atopic dermatitis:
- With breastfeeding, atopic dermatitis can occur in a child if the mother does not follow the diet of the lactating woman.
- Incorrect introduction of complementary foods. It can be either too fast food intake or feeding the baby with possible allergens.
- Poor baby skin care procedures. These include rare water treatments, infrequent diaper changes, overheating or hypothermia of the baby, the lack of cosmetics designed specifically for small children, the use of cosmetics that are not intended for the baby.
All of the above reasons are triggers. That is, they cause atopic dermatitis. But there are also diseases that can contribute to the development of the disease. They are called causal:
- Chronic diseases of the baby's gastrointestinal tract.
- Bad habits of parents. Namely smoking.
- Finding the baby in unfavorable meteorological conditions.
- Stress.
- The use of preservatives, dyes, flavors.
What are the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in children?
In the youngest, as a rule, the first sign of atopic dermatitis is redness of the cheeks. In addition, skin flaking and swelling are possible. Also, a newborn may develop gneiss. These are yellowish or brownish crusts on the scalp of the baby. Redness is possible on the elbow fossa and the outer sides of the arms and legs. As such, itching is not observed.
Most often, atopic dermatitis occurs in infants who are overweight or have unstable spasmodic weight gain. Also, atopic dermatitis occurs in infants with reduced skin elasticity, a pale pink color of the dermis and pronounced vascular reactions.
In children from three years of age, itching and severe pigmentation on the eyelids may be added to all of the above symptoms.
In the adolescent form of atopic dermatitis, bleeding crusts may appear. The itching is very severe. Sleep can be disrupted as a result of discomfort. The manifestation of dermatitis is characteristic not only in the areas of the bend of the limbs and on the face, but also in the decollete area.
After the initial stage of the disease, an acute phase follows. It is characterized by a large number of skin inflammations. There are papules, vesicles, small ulcers, crusts and scales.
If atopic dermatitis becomes chronic, then the following symptoms appear:
- Peeling on certain areas of the skin.
- Abrasions.
- Thickening of the skin with the appearance of folds.
The next stage of atopic dermatitis is remission. There are two types of remission: with the complete disappearance of all symptoms and with the weakening of symptoms.
With proper treatment, the next stage is clinical recovery. All the symptoms of dermatitis disappear in the child for a period of three years.
How is atopic dermatitis classified?
Atopic dermatitis is defined by five indicators:
- Forms by age. Infant atopic dermatitis is determined in children under the age of three years. Children's atopic dermatitis is diagnosed in children between the ages of three and seven. Adolescent is defined in children under the age of 14.
- Stages of development of atopic dermatitis. It is possible to determine the initial, acute, chronic phases and stage of remission of the disease.
- According to the prevalence of the disease on the body, there are an extensive form, limited and widespread. The last form of the disease includes atopic dermatitis, which has an area of distribution of more than 5% of the entire skin of the child. The extensive form of atopic dermatitis is characterized by the defeat of the entire skin, except for the soles of the feet, palms and the zone of the nasolabial triangle.
- The type can be food-grade atopic dermatitis and polyvalent. In the case of foodborne dermatitis, the reaction occurs within hours after the allergen is eaten. Sometimes the manifestation of atopic dermatitis is possible after a couple of minutes after eating. A polyvalent type of atopic dermatitis can occur for the following reasons: dysbiosis in a child, taking antibiotics, feeding the child too early, poor pregnancy, the presence of diseases of the digestive system in the child's parents.
How is atopic dermatitis treated?
A child's stay in a hospital with atopic dermatitis is necessary only if the therapy does not lead to any effect, the severity of the disease is high, and the general condition of the child is disturbed.
The approach to a child with atopic dermatitis should be comprehensive and consist of both drug and non-drug treatment.
Medicines are prescribed strictly individual, depending on the age of the child, the severity of the disease and other factors. The amount of affected skin, the presence of problems with the internal organs in the patient during atopic dermatitis must be assessed. First, they try to use drugs for external use. This is especially true for young children, for whom taking many drugs by mouth is permissible only in extreme cases. From a fairly large list of ointments, the doctor will select the most optimal one for a particular child.
Also, the following groups of topical drugs are used to treat atopic dermatitis:
- Antihistamines. For the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children, it is best to use drugs of the second and third generation. These drugs are long-acting and do not cause sleep problems or addiction. It is not uncommon for sedatives to be offered for the treatment of atopy. In this case, the child or adolescent may have normal sleep, which was restless due to constant itching.
- Systemic antibiotics are only used if the child is confirmed to have bacterial skin lesions. For example, streptococci or staphylococci.
- Immunomodulators are required only if the immune deficiency is confirmed by an immunologist. In other cases, the use of drugs that help normalize the immune system is not required.
- Antifungal medications are needed when a child's skin is damaged by fungus.
- Drugs capable of restoring the work of the gastrointestinal tract are used only in acute or precautionary periods. They are prescribed to correct the work of digestion.
- B vitamins, in particular B6 and B15, are necessary to accelerate the treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis. If a child has atopic dermatitis as a result of food allergy, then vitamins must be taken with great care.
Non-drug treatment consists in the complete or partial exclusion of those factors due to which the child could develop dermatoallergosis. It is necessary to carefully monitor the child, moisturize the skin, use only baby creams, let the skin take air baths, make sure that the baby's skin does not become overcast.
Diet for atopic dermatitis
Special nutrition plays a huge role in the treatment of allergic dermatitis. If atopic dermatitis occurs in a newborn who eats exclusively breast milk, then the mother should follow the diet.
It is necessary to exclude all possible allergens in the mother's diet. Honey, sugar, milk, fruits and vegetables, nuts must be removed from the diet. After the allergic reaction has passed, mom can start eating these foods in small quantities. You can try one product. And only after making sure that the newborn is not allergic, you can try a new product.
A child often has an allergic reaction to cow protein. In this case, it is necessary to replace the formula for feeding the baby. If a child has been diagnosed with a soy allergy or a severe form of food allergy, then only a hypoallergenic mixture should be used.
The introduction of a new product into the diet should take place gradually, in small doses, and only with the permission of the attending physician.
