Signs of scabies in children
Scabies - very common skina disease caused by a parasite - an itch mite. Infection often occurs through direct contact with a sick person, less often through general hygiene items, bedding or clothing.
The most characteristic signs of scabies are strongitching and the appearance on the skin areas of typical itch moves, left by ticks. A normal handshake is one of the most common ways to infect scabies. This is why often the first rashes appear on the hands - in the interdigital folds, on the wrists, in the ulnar fossa. In addition to the hands, rashes can be localized on the skin of the abdomen, around the mammary glands, axillary hollows, on the external genitalia, buttocks and feet. In adults, almost never scabies mite does not affect the scalp, face and neck. But irrespective of the location of the rash, itching can appear all over the body.
A somewhat different clinical picture showsscabies in children. Symptoms can manifest in almost any part of the body, including the scalp, face, palms, and in infants, sometimes even on the nails, which leads to their curvature, thickening and the appearance of cracks. Skin rashes, usually accompanied by severe itching. In the daytime, he can practically not disturb the child, but noticeably intensifies in the evening and night, and also after taking a warm bath. This is due to the cycle of daily activity of parasites, since it is at this time that the mites of the mite pile "skin" on the surface to lay eggs. Therefore, one of the symptoms that parents should watch out for is the restless behavior of the baby in the evening, increased nervous excitability and disturbances in night sleep.
Due to the easy contact transmission path,scabies very quickly spread in close collectives. Especially often outbreaks of scabies occur in preschool institutions - kindergartens and day nurseries. Here, for this condition, they are simply ideal - playing, the children are in close contact with each other, they share toys, towels and, often, bed linens. And if signs of scabies have appeared at least one child, you can be sure that the surrounding children will immediately catch it.
The first signs of scabies in children are sometimesare detected within a few hours after contact with patients. The first to make itself felt is the itching and then the characteristic rashes appear on the skin. Often the child begins to strongly comb the itchy places, as a result of which secondary bacterial infection joins scabies, requiring additional treatment with antibacterial drugs.
At visual inspection on a skin typicalsigns of scabies, namely - scabies. These are paved "routes" in the upper layer of the skin by female mites, through which they come to the surface for egg laying. Usually have the form of straight or curved lines of white color from 0.5 mm to 1 cm in length. Scabies are often surrounded by polymorphous eruptions in the form of small (up to 3 mm) papules, vesicles, or pustules, and are accompanied by a characteristic reddening of the adjacent skin areas. In children, rashes are often accompanied by an exudative component that lubricates the overall picture of the disease, recalling the signs of wet eczema, which, however, does not lend itself to conventional therapy. Sometimes with scabies, there may also appear not exactly typical eruptions, in the form of large blisters (from 4 mm) filled with fluid or pus.
If a child shows signs of scabies, thento establish a definitive diagnosis and the appointment of a follow-up treatment, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. Self-medication should be ruled out. Measures to combat scabies include mandatory preventive treatment for all family members, since the disease is very contagious. And also the thorough disinfection of all household items with which the affected child was in contact. Bed linen, toys and clothes should be boiled for 25 minutes. Those objects and things that can not be subjected to washing and boiling are treated with hot steam or special preparations in aerosol form.
