Infectious (viral) dermatitis: causes, treatment in children and adults

Infectious dermatitis is a disease, the main causes of which are various types of infectious processes. As a rule, dermatitis of an infectious nature is observed after such past diseases as measles, chickenpox, smallpox, etc.

In addition, infectious skin irritation can occur in the postoperative period when infected with streptococci and staphylococcus. At the initial stage, it is rather difficult to determine the true symptoms of dermatitis or the causes of such symptoms are associated with comorbidities, but it should be noted that this type of disease not contagious. It is not spread from person to person.

It is important to separate concepts such as infectious, atopic and allergic dermatitis, as many people mistakenly consider this to be one type of disease. Allergic dermatitis is characterized by hypersensitivity of the skin upon contact with external substances. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease of an allergic nature, when irritation can occur as a result of external and internal exposure to allergens. Atopic dermatitis is most often observed in children and, just like infectious and allergic dermatitis, is not transmitted from sick patients to healthy ones.

The causes of the onset of the disease

The main causes of infectious dermatitis, when the symptoms of the disease are most pronounced, are the attack of the body by bacterial and viral infections. Quite often, the causes of the pathological process lie in the presence of the Sandida type fungi in the patient, which are actively multiplying, accompanied by a hyperemic rash. Viral dermatitis itself is not contagious, the infectious process that caused the pathological condition is dangerous.

The most often provocateurs of the development of the disease are:

• microtrauma of the skin;
• non-compliance with hygiene rules;
• long-term use of immunosuppressants and corticosteroids;

• chronic alcoholism;
• disturbances in the functioning of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine gland, kidneys;
• chronic circulatory failure in adult patients;
• immunodeficiency syndrome;
• dermatitis can result from staphylococcal and streptococcal attacks on the body;
• in children, and sometimes in adult patients, the causes of the disease can be associated with infections such as measles, scabies, rubella, smallpox, typhus and scarlet fever;
• postoperative complications;
• STDs.

It is possible to diagnose the symptoms of this form of dermatitis after a thorough examination to find out the pathogen. For this, a serological and virological examination of the patient is carried out. If diagnosis (especially in children) is difficult, histology is used.

Symptoms of the disease

The symptoms of dermatitis are directly related to the type of disease that caused it. The most common infections that cause dermatitis symptoms are:
1. RUBELLA. In this condition, rashes are most often localized on the neck and face, with further spread throughout the body, especially on the inner side of the limbs, back and buttocks. Dermatitis as a result of rubella is often accompanied by hyperthermia, lymphadenitis and a rash, which in the initial stage of the disease manifests itself in small oval spots. They turn pale after 2 days, and on the third they are practically nonexistent.

2. MEASLES. The initial symptoms of dermatitis in the form of a rash appear in the ears, bridge of the nose, on the face, spreading over the upper chest. After 48 hours, a rash may appear on the hands, followed by a lesion in the leg area. The rash at the beginning of the disease is characterized by pink papules, merging in places. Subsequently, the color of the rash turns bright red. A day later, viral dermatitis loses its papularity, the rashes become brown in color, peel off and pigmentation may appear in their place. In some cases, dermatitis caused by measles is atypical (at the beginning, rashes are purple, and during pigmentation, the rash can turn green and then acquire a brownish shade).

3. Enterovirus infection. Dermatitis with enteroviral diseases is most often localized on the hands, body and lower extremities. There are no stages of rashes. Skin symptoms disappear after 72 hours, without pigmentation and peeling.

4. SCARLET FEVER. In this disease, the rash is quite thick, hyperemic, consisting of many small papules, sometimes of a bluish tint. At the very beginning, the rashes are localized in places of high humidity (groin, armpit area), and then their spread on the back, elbow bends, inner abdomen and thigh is noted. Rarely enough, infectious dermatitis with the development of scarlet fever can be accompanied by hemorrhages (subcutaneous hemorrhages) and purulent rashes.

5. WIND POISK. In this case, dermatitis occurs in children, characterized by the appearance of a rash on the head, chest, face. Subsequently appearing in the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe feet and hands. Eruptions of bright red color with transparent contents in papules. Drying crusts gradually appear. Sometimes an infectious dermatitis in children with smallpox virus is shingles. In this case, a monomorphic rash is noted, localized in places of nerve damage.

6. SCABIES. Such symptoms are most often observed on the arms, in the gluteal region, on the bends of the forearm, in the abdomen, and the inner surfaces of the thigh. If pyoderma appears, the rash can spread throughout the body. A characteristic feature that is not present in any disease is scabby passages between the fingers on the hands.

Traditional treatment

Treatment of infectious dermatitis must be carried out in a comprehensive manner, which is associated with a rather difficult establishment of the cause that can provoke the disease. Therefore, most often, therapeutic measures include the use of drugs that can actively affect various types of infections:

• As a rule, antihistamines are prescribed (Claritin, Erius, Tavegil, etc.) in order to minimize the symptoms of an infectious form of dermatitis, removing such a phenomenon as puffiness and excruciating itching skin;
• during the treatment of infectious dermatitis in adult patients and children, specialists often use short-acting glucocorticosteroids (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, etc.). These medicines can be used both orally and externally;

• a positive effect for the removal of rashes, especially on the hands, Locoid cream is prescribed.

In addition, it is recommended to take immunomodulators to increase the body's resistance and timely sanitize chronic foci of inflammation, especially in children.

Treatment with folk methods

In addition to drug therapy, it is possible to alleviate the manifestations of dermatitis and improve the general condition of the patient with the help of traditional medicine recipes. However, it should be remembered that any treatment for infectious dermatitis, including folk remedies, requires mandatory consultation with your doctor.

1. You can treat dermatitis with raw potatoes, the positive properties of which have long been known. Mashed raw potatoes, which are laid out on a clean napkin, can be applied to the affected area of ​​the skin to neutralize itching, hyperemia and edema. The compress should be on the body for no more than 15-20 minutes. After that, the potato mixture is washed off with warm water and the skin is wiped dry.

1. A fairly effective disinfectant, especially for the skin on the hands, is a cream made from butter and St. John's wort. To prepare the medicine, you need to take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry St. John's wort and pour ½ cup of hot water, leaving to infuse for 5-10 minutes. After complete cooling, the broth is filtered and mixed with 50 gr. oils. The cream is applied in a thin layer to the skin for 10-15 minutes, until completely absorbed.

It should be noted that it is unlikely that it will be possible to prevent the symptoms of the development of infectious dermatitis with the help of traditional medicine recipes. However, they contribute to a significant relief of the general condition of the patient, subject to comprehensive treatment and adherence to all the recommendations of the attending physician.