When talking about diathesis in a child, mother usually means redness on the cheeks or a rash on the baby's buttocks. This is how diathesis really manifests itself, but only one of its types. What are diathesis in children, how to identify them, is it possible to prevent and what is the best way to treat it?
What is it?
The term "diathesis" in medicine is the propensity of babies to certain diseases. Most often, diathesis is called the manifestation of an allergy on the baby's skin, but this is dermatitis, the cause of which may be one of the diathesis - exudative-catarrhal.
It is customary to call diathesis the peculiarities of the reaction to various stimuli manifested in childhood, when the baby's body responds inadequately (pathologically). Diathesis is not a clinical diagnosis, but it can cause various diseases. Read about diathesis in infants in another article.
Kinds
Pediatricians distinguish several types of diathesis, among which the most common are:
- Lymphatic-hypoplastic. As the name suggests, this diathesis affects the child's lymphatic system. It also affects the endocrine and immune systems.
- Exudative-catarrhal. This type of diathesis is predominant, and when it comes to diathesis, it is often it that is meant.
- Neuro-arthritic. With such a diathesis, the child is noted for increased excitability and salt metabolism disorders, because of which it is also called uric acid.
Causes
First of all, diathesis develops under the influence of genetic factors, when the features of the work of internal organs and metabolic processes are transmitted to the baby from his parents. Also, various damaging influences lead to the development of diathesis, which affect the baby both during the period of stay in the mother's womb and during childbirth. In addition, the infant's body in the first years of life is not yet fully developed and works slightly differently than the adult's body. This is what causes the emergence of different types of diathesis.
The factors provoking each type of diathesis are:
Can you prevent it?
In many cases, diathesis appears as a result of heredity, and it will not work to influence it. At the same time, some children "outgrow" this condition without any consequences, while other babies may develop serious diseases. And the actions of parents under the guidance of doctors can prevent the occurrence of such diseases.
Nevertheless, given the factors provoking diathesis, it can be noted that the risk of its development will be reduced if the mother, while carrying the baby, will eat rationally and protect herself from infections. Rational feeding of the newborn, prevention of infections and colds, and timely treatment of diseases will also help reduce the likelihood of diathesis.
Symptoms
Exudative-catarrhal
The main symptom of the exudative-catarrhal form of diathesis is a tendency to allergies, which is manifested by dermatitis. The baby's cheeks turn red, and rashes of various types and sizes may appear on the body. Also, dense scales and crusts can form on the baby's hair and cheeks. The affected skin may become wet, cracked, and infected.
After six months, dermatitis often manifests itself as a rash on the extremities, often localized in the folds under the knees and in the elbow joints. A small nodular rash may occur in the ankle and wrist area. As a rule, the elements of the rash are quite itchy.
Other manifestations of this form of diathesis are:
- Prickly heat and diaper rash. Such symptoms quickly appear, if the child is in too hot conditions for a short time or at the wrong time to change the baby's diaper.
- Frequent inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes and mouth.
- Increased tendency to colds and SARS.
- Excessive weight gain.
Lymphatic-hypoplastic
The main symptom of the lymphatic-hypoplastic type of diathesis is an increase in the child's lymph nodes. They are detectable by palpation and can be the size of a bean or a pea and are not painful.
Other signs of such a diathesis are:
- Pallor and flabbiness of the child's skin, puffiness.
- Fatigue, lethargy, lethargy.
- Poor development of muscle mass, overweight.
- Enlargement of the adenoids, leading to protracted rhinitis, impaired nasal breathing.
- An enlarged thymus, which is often seen on a chest x-ray. Because of it, the child may have a hoarse voice, shortness of breath during sleep, cough for no reason.
- Frequent infections. Usually, in children with such a diathesis, ARVI occurs more often six times a year and disappears with symptoms of severe intoxication.
Neuro-arthritic
The main symptom of neuro-arthritic diathesis is the significant nervous excitability of the baby. In infants, it manifests itself in loud crying, shuddering, and in older children - nervous tics, enuresis, the appearance of night fears, frequent mood swings, vomiting with overexcitation, cough without ARVI.
Other symptoms of this diathesis can be:
- Frequent complaints of the child of pain. The child may say that the head, legs, abdomen hurt, and at the same time organic disorders are not detected.
- Poor appetite.
- An increase in body temperature for no reason.
- Frequent acetone crises.
Treatment
The features of treatment are determined by the type of diathesis and the symptoms of its course in the child.
Diet
With an exudative-catarrhal form of diathesis, the baby's nutrition should be hypoallergenic. It is important to preserve breastfeeding for as long as possible, while the mother should also adhere to a diet that restricts allergens.
If the infant had to be fed with formula, a suitable option should be selected with the pediatrician that does not cause a reaction. It is not worth changing the mixture to which the child is not allergic to another option, even if he likes it more for its price, manufacturer, composition or other characteristics.
It is important to start feeding a baby with diathesis no earlier than 6 months of age. First, the baby is introduced to hypoallergenic dishes - squash puree and rice porridge. During the period of the beginning of feeding, the baby should be carefully observed. Keeping a food diary is recommended.
With products such as eggs, fish, juices, chicken and some others, the baby should be introduced a little later than his peers. Strong allergens (strawberries, honey, chocolate, nuts, seafood and others) should not be given until 2-3 years of age. The child should prepare food on his own, since reactions to canned products are quite common.
Much attention should be paid to nutrition in case of neuro-arthritic diathesis:
- The child should eat regularly, without long breaks without food.
- The baby cannot be force-fed. If he refuses, gently offer different dishes, but don't intimidate or force.
- The emphasis in nutrition should be on plant and dairy foods. Meat and fish should be limited.
- The child should not be given salty, pickled, canned, smoked and very fatty foods. You should limit foods that are high in purines and salts.
- The child's drinking regime should be extended.
Medicines
All drugs to eliminate the manifestations of diathesis should be prescribed by a doctor. With a lymphatic-hypoplastic type of diathesis, it is important to treat infections that appear in a child in time to prevent a protracted course and complications.
During the recovery period, babies are often prescribed medications that strengthen the immune system. With neuro-arthritic diathesis, it is necessary to timely treat the acetone crisis, which often occurs in such children.
Local funds
To quickly get rid of the manifestations of dermatitis with exudative-catarrhal form of diathesis, creams, emulsions, gels, ointments and other topical agents help. They can be hormonal, for example, Advantan or Elok, (such drugs have a quick and effective action, but side effects are possible) and non-hormonal, for example, fenistil or elidel. Weeping wounds are treated with lotions with medicinal solutions of furacilin, tea, decoction of oak bark.
To cleanse the skin, the child should be bathed daily in dechlorinated water (the water should be left for at least an hour before bathing). To enhance the positive effect of the baths, you can add an infusion of herbs to the water (use chamomile, string, sage), potato starch, brewed wheat bran, decoction of bay leaves.
Childcare Tips
- Use special soap or powder to wash both your baby's clothes and your home clothes. After washing, things should be ironed.
- Let the baby's wardrobe contain only things made from natural fabrics.
- Limit your baby's contact with stuffed toys. All rubber or plastic toys that are purchased for an infant must be checked (whether there is a quality certificate).
- You should not have a pet while the child is small. If you already have a pet in the house, limit his contact with the baby.
- Try to minimize the number of things in the nursery that can collect dust. Remove carpet and upholstered furniture, hide books behind glass.
- The children's room should be wet cleaned daily.
- For any illness, you should not give your child any medication until you consult a doctor, because many drugs can be allergens due to the content of dyes and flavors.
- Cosmetic products for baby hair and skin care must be from special hypoallergenic series.
- Provide your baby with adequate sleep at night and during the day. At the same time, you should not play too actively in the evening.
- Let the child's day routine include walks, gymnastics, light massage.
Forecast
The exudative-catarrhal variant of diathesis passes by 3-4 years of age in most babies. In the future, such children consume milk, red berries, citrus fruits, chocolate and other allergenic foods without any problems. In some cases, this diathesis gives rise to the development of allergic diseases - bronchial asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis, dermatitis and others. To prevent them, it is important to carefully adhere to conditions such as a hypoallergenic diet, proper care for damaged skin, and timely treatment of exacerbations.
The lymphatic-hypoplastic type of diathesis first appears at 2-3 years old, but as the immune system of the crumbs improves, it almost always goes away by the age of 6-7. For parents, the main task is to protect the child from infections. They should focus on normalizing the daily routine and nutrition of the baby, as well as hardening. The baby is recommended air baths, a contrast shower, dousing the legs, walking barefoot, sunbathing, sleeping without pajamas.
The neuro-arthritic type of diathesis has the most unfavorable prognosis, since it often becomes the cause of various diseases of the nervous system and metabolism. With such a diathesis, the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, gout, inflammation of the joints, kidneys, neuroses and many other pathologies increases. It is important to protect the child from overwork and excessive stress, to create a favorable psychological attitude in the family, to walk every day, take the baby in sports, teach him relaxation techniques (breathing exercises, light massage).
