Causes and symptoms of atopic dermatitis in children

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease, which occupies one of the first places in the world for distribution among the population. And although it often appears in adulthood, basically a similar condition is diagnosed in children. Statistics show that almost 12% of the world's population suffers from this ailment. So what are the causes of atopic dermatitis in children? What are the main symptoms? What treatments for the disease exist? Many parents are interested in this information.

The main causes of atopic dermatitis in children

It should immediately be noted that this is a chronic, allergic disease that affects the skin tissues. In most cases, the first symptoms in a child appear at the age of 6 to 12 months, much less often the disease manifests itself later. In fact, the causes of the disease can not be determined, but scientists identify several risk factors.

Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary disease that is accompanied by a violation of the normal functioning of the immune system and the development of the so-called hypersensitivity of the organism to certain substances. Most often in the role of allergens are food products, but it can also be cosmetic and cleaning products (for example, shampoo or laundry detergent), animal exchange products, fabrics, etc.

In any case, one heredity is not enough for the appearance of atopic dermatitis in children. It is proved that the disease is much more frequent in the presence of some other factors, in particular chronic or infectious diseases of newborns, alcoholism and smoking of the mother during pregnancy, insufficient long-term breastfeeding, improper introduction of complementary foods into the infant's diet, etc.

The main symptoms of atopic dermatitis in children

In fact, the disease can be accompanied by different symptoms. In most cases, it begins with the formation of bright red spots on the skin of the face. Then the rash passes to other parts of the body. At the same time the child is constantly suffering from severe itching and burning. As the disease develops, the affected areas begin to melt and become covered with a yellowish crust. Sometimes, on the contrary, the skin becomes dry and cracked, resulting in bleeding sores appearing. In addition, dermatitis is often associated with various fungal and bacterial infections, which only aggravates the condition of the baby.

Methods of treatment of atopic dermatitis in children

The treatment regimen can be made only by a doctor, since the methods used depend to a large extent on the severity and causes of the illness. Typically, the child is prescribed antihistamines, as well as drugs that purify the body of toxins (sorbents), various ointments and gels that stimulate the process of regeneration and relieve itching. In more severe cases, hormonal drugs are used.

Atopic dermatitis in children: diet

Of course, proper nutrition is an integral part of the treatment. The menu of a child with atopic dermatitis is also composed by a doctor. As a rule, experts recommend to exclude from the diet sugar, chocolate, canned foods, smoked products, spices, red and orange raw fruits and vegetables. But porridge, stews and sour-milk products will positively affect the child's well-being. Only lean boiled chicken and beef are suitable for meat.