Ringworm in children: main causes, symptoms and treatment methods

Symptoms of lichen in humans

A group of dermatological diseases, which is manifested by the formation of rashes, papules, pigment spots with peeling on the skin, is lichen. This type of ailment refers to infections caused by fungi and viruses. Inflammation in a person’s face, head, arms, legs, chest or throughout the body is often transmitted through household contact. The disease has many varieties with characteristic signs, but there are also common symptoms (shown in the photo):

• increased body temperature;
• skin rashes, severe itching;
• tissue redness;
• peeling of the skin;
• enlarged lymph nodes may occur;
• general significant malaise, weakness.

What does lichen look like in children?

Not only adults suffer from infectious skin diseases. Ringworm on the face of children is a common occurrence. Children quickly become infected in the family, kindergarten, school, or on the playground through contact with a carrier of lichen infection. More often, the pathology affects the body of a child who has suffered an acute respiratory viral infection, suffers from chronic illnesses or constant stress.

The malaise can manifest itself in the form of a single red scaly spot or affect several areas of the face at the same time. First symptoms:

• the skin of the face becomes covered with spots of various shades (or one large lesion forms);
• dyspigmentation (the formation of light or dark areas on the skin);
• peeling, itching.

Prevention

To move psoriasis into the stage of remission or regression, it is important to adhere to the recommendations listed below:

• follow a diet;
• to refuse from bad habits;
• follow a sleep and rest schedule;
• maintain mental balance;
• spend enough time outdoors;
• take multivitamins.

If a person suffering from scaly lichen strictly follows the listed advice and doctor’s prescriptions and is attentive to his own health, then relapses of psoriasis will not bother him for a long time. This will help keep him healthy and feel full in society.

Types of lichen in humans

Before starting therapeutic measures and using medications that only a doctor can prescribe, you need to find out what type of disease is occurring. They differ in appearance, symptoms, course and are treated differently. The main types of lichen include:

1. Red flat. Often this pathology appears on the lips, oral mucosa, and facial skin. This type of disease looks like gray, pale pink tubercles, which over time can transform into ulcers. The shape of the sores resembles warts.
2. Pityriasis (color) dermatitis refers to fungal lichen infections. A sign of the disease is pink-brown spots with uneven but clear boundaries. If you scratch such a lesion on the cheek or other area of ​​the face, the spots begin to peel.
3. Ringworm (trichophytia) is also caused by a fungus. As a rule, it forms on the chin and areas bordering the hair. The disease manifests itself as pinkish spots of uneven shape, in the middle of which a crust appears after a while. Trichophytosis causes psychological discomfort and slight itching.
4. Psoriasis (lichen planus) appears as small red nodules (papules). They gradually increase in size and then form plaques with scales. If it has an advanced form, then the spots begin to crack, bleed, and cause severe itching and pain.
5. Pink – refers to viral illnesses. It is difficult to diagnose because it resembles an allergic rash. Symptoms: spots with blurred borders of a pale pink color begin to appear, itching, burning, and peeling appear. The appearance of sores under the eye, on the cheeks, nose, forehead can also be accompanied by an increase in body temperature and general malaise of the patient.

Diagnostics

To determine an accurate diagnosis, you must consult a doctor if you notice suspicious rashes. The specialist conducts a visual examination of the patient and prescribes appropriate laboratory tests.

Difficulties with diagnosis arise if the pathological process is localized on the palms and soles of a person’s feet. In this context, it is necessary to differentiate the disease from eczema, which is also characterized by exudative rashes.

Laboratory studies are based on mycological and microscopic examination of scales. Thanks to this, the true nature of the disease is revealed - fungal or non-infectious. If we are talking about damage to joint tissue, the doctor prescribes a blood test for rheumatic tests and an x-ray examination. In complicated cases, a biopsy may be performed.

Causes of deprivation on the face

There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence of lichen infection. Doctors include the most well-known reasons:

• weakened immune system;
• CNS diseases;
• deficiency of microelements, vitamins and other useful substances in the body;
• hypothermia;
• infection of a healthy person occurs through contact with cats and dogs – carriers of the fungus;
• long-term, frequent stressful situations;
• frequent colds;
• predisposition to allergies;
• the appearance of the disease may depend on problems with the digestive system;
• hereditary factor;
• insect bites;
• helminthiasis (the presence of worms in the human body).

How to treat lichen

To get rid of lichen infection and its symptoms, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in time and begin medical procedures. How to treat lichen on a child’s face and how to help an adult in such a situation? Treatment of the disease is carried out comprehensively, consisting of the use of vitamins, immunomodulators, and local tablets. When a disease is transmitted to a person by a specific virus or fungus, the doctor prescribes special antifungal agents against the disease: ointments, creams, gels.

Treatment of pityriasis rosea

Treatment occurs with the help of various tablets, creams, ointments and antihistamines. Folk remedies are also often used as effective additional therapy for the disease. What ointments and gels are used:

1. Gel Sinalar (also available in the form of ointment, cream). It actively relieves itching, lightens spots on the face, and softens the skin. Apply the gel in a thin layer and gently rub onto the person’s skin.
2. Sulfur-salicylic ointment is an antiseptic that perfectly fights the inflammatory process, bacteria, and effectively dries out lichen rashes. The ointment is applied twice a day to the affected areas of the skin. The duration of treatment for lichen infection is no more than a week.
3. Clotrimazole is an ointment that has an antifungal effect on the skin. It suppresses the development of fungal cells. The foci of the disease are carefully lubricated with a thin layer of ointment, then it is rubbed in with light movements. The course of treatment ranges from 3 weeks to 2 months.

Pills

Medicines in tablet form also work well against infections affecting the facial area. Basically, dermatologists prescribe the following tablets:

1. Tavegil is an antihistamine. It relieves itching and scabies well, and prevents the formation of new lichen spots.
2. Loratadine - antiallergenic tablets. They have an effect within a few hours after ingestion, because they are actively absorbed in the intestines. The effect lasts for more than a day.
3. Erythromycin is an antibiotic that disrupts the production of proteins in the causative agents of pityriasis rosea, helping to reduce their active activity. The duration of therapy is about 5 days. Then the disease disappears.

Treatment with Acyclovir

Another effective way to get rid of an unpleasant disease is treatment with Acyclovir. This medication is produced in the form of tablets and ointments. The main quality of the product is to block the growth of bacteria, and this helps to reduce the number of pink plaques on the face. It is better to use complex treatment: ointment + tablets. After 3-4 days of therapy, the spots become paler, and after a week they disappear completely. The course of treatment with an antibacterial agent is about 5 days.

• Omez - what it is used for, instructions and reviews
• Liver hemangioma: causes and treatment
• How to effectively treat subcutaneous mites on the face

How to treat lichen planus

Lichen planus on the skin is eliminated using a variety of drugs. Doctors prescribe antiallergic and sedatives, medications containing calcium, vitamin B. Lichen planus can also be treated with antibiotics (for example, Penicillin). For external use, it is effective to use products with corticosteroids (Reaferon, Prednisolone). Diazolin, Diphenhydramine, Pipolfen are used as antihistamines for treating facial skin.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid can be a good remedy against unsightly itchy rashes on the face. Typically, this type of therapy helps get rid of lichen planus in three to four days. Regular aspirin tablets are used as follows:

• the pills are crushed to a powdery state;
• mix with alcohol (40 degrees) until a homogeneous paste is formed;
• The resulting solution is applied to the skin affected by lichen and sealed with a band-aid.

Vishnevsky ointment

A remedy for a dangerous infection that has been proven over the years is Vishnevsky ointment. It has an exclusively natural composition and effectively fights infections on the skin. The product contains birch tar and xeroform (antiseptic). These components cope well with fungus and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Castor oil, which is also contained in Vishnevsky’s ointment, plays the role of an antimicrobial component. It destroys bacteria and fungi in a short time. The drug is applied to the skin until complete recovery.

Tar soap

Effective remedies against skin infections that are made from birch tar include tar soap. When purchasing a natural specific medicine, you should pay attention to its color. The darker and more saturated the shade of the soap, the more effective it is in the fight against lichen. Method of use: it is necessary to soap the infection site daily and leave the foam until completely dry. The procedure is repeated from 3 to 14 days, depending on the results of treatment.

Preventive measures

Table - Degree of infectivity of different types of lichen

Prevention is most important for ringworm, which is usually transmitted by contact. What to do if lichen is found in a child or adult family members?

• The lichen spots should be covered so that the scales do not spread throughout the house: a scarf on the head, clothes covering the arms and legs.
• Wet cleaning should be carried out every day using disinfectants.
• It is necessary to boil underwear, bed linen, and towels.
• It is better to throw away the old washcloth.
• Disinfect combs and hair accessories and replace them with new ones after treatment.
• Clean clothes and bedding should be ironed thoroughly on both sides.

It is important to know: if you have ringworm, you are prohibited from visiting children's groups. Visits are permitted only after triple confirmation of a negative test result.

There is a separate issue about pets. It is necessary to exclude that the source of infection is a cat or dog. To do this, the animal must be taken to a veterinary hospital and examined. To prevent ringworm, children should be taught not to pet stray cats and dogs on the street.

Treatment of deprivation in children is carried out over a long course at home. If the fungal nature of the disease is established, the most effective remedies will be antifungal drugs. Ringworm is the most common disease among children. You can’t start it, because lichen can become chronic, and the child will always be infectious to others.

Author: Alexey Shevchenko August 18, 2021 23:10 Category: Nature and people

Good day, dear regular readers and guests of Alexey Shevchenko’s blog “Healthy Lifestyle”. The health of children always causes concern for caring parents. It is very difficult to protect a child from all kinds of infections: after all, you cannot isolate a little person from the outside world and put him under a sterile cap.

Running barefoot on the grass, building sand towers on the beach, playing with yard dogs and cats is an integral part of childhood. But it is all this that creates the strongest threat of getting one of the most unpleasant diseases - lichen. Therefore, all parents need to know how to treat lichen in a child and immediately consult a doctor at the first sign.

Folk remedies

Doctors do not advise self-medicating a serious illness at home. Folk remedies for lichen are different, and some of them can cause significant harm. You can use your grandmother's recipes, which have a non-aggressive effect, easing the condition of the skin. Before doing this, you should definitely consult a doctor. Here are some simple options for eliminating a fungal infection:

1. Crushed dried celandine (5 tablespoons) is poured with boiled cold water (1 liter). The mixture is brought to a boil and cooked for 10 minutes over low heat. The medicinal decoction is infused for 2 hours, filtered through gauze. Compresses are applied to the spots several times a day.
2. Apple cider vinegar, undiluted, is also applied to the affected areas of the skin. This procedure is performed 4 times a day. The product helps get rid of itching and burning. The lichen infection gradually disappears from the face, the skin becomes clearer. The results of treating the disease are positive.
3. You can make an ointment based on natural ingredients. First, a decoction is made from burdock roots, hops and calendula flowers in equal parts. The resulting liquid is combined with Vaseline in a ratio of one to two. The product in the form of an ointment is carefully applied in a thin layer to the patient’s lichen rashes several times a day. This type of treatment significantly improves the condition of the facial skin.
4. You may need a bottle of licorice syrup or a decoction of its root. This folk remedy for lichen perfectly strengthens the immune system, which helps to quickly get rid of the pathology.

Prevention

To avoid contracting an unpleasant disease, dermatologists suggest following simple rules of prevention:

1. It is necessary to increase and strengthen the immune system.
2. Contact with unfamiliar animals (cats, dogs, etc.) should be minimized.
3. Treat pathologies of the central nervous system in a timely manner.
4. Prolonged stressful situations should be avoided.
5. Maintaining good body hygiene increases the chances of not becoming infected with pink, pityriasis versicolor or other types of lichen.
6. Take vitamin supplements regularly and prevent colds.
7. Anything that could cause an allergic reaction to the skin should be avoided.
8. It is necessary to promptly treat helminthiases (helminthic infestations) and diseases of the digestive system. These problems often contribute to the development of shingles infection.