It may be sad, but today there are many childhood diseases that require instant treatment. Uurticaria in children is a very common disease that almost every parent faces. Most often, it proceeds in an acute form and is accompanied by pronounced symptoms, especially in newborns. Sometimes urticaria in children (photos and treatment of the disease can be found in this article) goes away by itself, but in some cases, drug therapy is required.
The very first clinical manifestation is a red rash that remotely resembles burns. As the disease progresses, the children begin to itch severely. If you do not take any measures, then, as a rule, angioedema develops. In this case, self-medication is not recommended, because, firstly, it is very difficult to defeat the ailment, and secondly, the likelihood of developing dangerous complications is high. Therefore, the only right way out is to show the child to a qualified pediatrician. But if urticaria has not yet had time to acquire a severe form, then it can be cured without any special problems with the help of traditional medicine.
Main reasons
Let's look at them in more detail. Urticaria (symptoms in children and a photo you can find in this article) can develop for many reasons.
Among the most common are the following:
- various infections;
- malfunction of the immune system;
- individual intolerance to any food;
- dermatitis;
- diabetes;
- various forms of hepatitis;
- herpes;
- digestive system problems;
- leukemia.
Depending on what exactly caused the development of urticaria, the clinical manifestations and the treatment method may differ. Therefore, it is better not to try to cope with the disease on your own, but to entrust this to profiled specialists.
First aid
What should you pay attention to first of all? If you don’t know what urticaria looks like in children, a photo will help you recognize it. Confusing an ailment with a rash that accompanies a food allergy is simply impossible. If the first clinical manifestations are detected, treatment should be started immediately, since urticaria is a dangerous pathology that can lead to serious complications. In its advanced form, it is difficult to treat, and the child may have characteristic scars and spots on the skin for life.
If urticaria in children, the treatment at home of which will be described in detail below, is accompanied by fever, this may indicate the presence of concomitant diseases. Moreover, among the most common symptoms there is pain and sore throat, nausea and vomiting. If in the condition of the baby for a long time no improvement is observed, then he needs urgent professional medical care.
If you have any suspicions of urticaria, then you must immediately take the following measures:
- Protect the baby from contact with pets, household chemicals and other antigens, which can cause allergies and complicate the course of the disease.
- If a child simultaneously has a disturbance in the functioning of the digestive system due to an allergy to any foods, then give him an enema to clean his intestines and provide plenty of water.
- With severe skin itching, lotions with a special solution should be put. To prepare it, you need to mix one dessert spoon of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of warm water.
- Dress the baby in clothes made from natural fabric.
- Hives in children under one year of age (the symptoms are completely the same as in older children) are often accompanied by small vesicles, which they tear apart. To avoid this, babies should wear mittens.
It is worth noting that it is not recommended to give a child antihistamines on their own without first consulting a doctor. It is best to first take the baby to an appointment with a profiled specialist who will select the appropriate remedy.
Drug therapy
So what is she like? If urticaria is diagnosed in children up to a year old, treatment is carried out with the use of antihistamines with a complex effect. It is very important not only to reduce the severity of symptoms, but also to relieve swelling, relieve the patient from itching and stop the inflammatory process. Most often, special ointments and creams are prescribed that process the skin.
In case of relapse, you can use the following tools:
- Atarax
- Benadryl
- "Hydroxyzine";
- "Diphenhydramine".
Each of the listed drugs blocks certain receptors, due to which the clinical manifestations of allergies are removed and the baby's condition improves. In this case, the dosage and duration of therapy depend on the age category, as well as the stage of urticaria in children.
Effective and relatively inexpensive antihistamines are drugs such as:
- Allegra
- Clarisens
- Tavegil
- "Suprastin";
- "Levocetirizine".
With urticaria in children, treatment at home using the above drugs should give a positive result already a week after the start of their intake. If the disease does not disappear, then in this case, antihistamines are replaced with corticosteroids. The best among them are Claritin and Zirtek.
Ointments and creams
If you know what urticaria looks like in children, then you can determine it in time and start treatment in a timely manner. If you have not shown the baby to the doctor, then it is not recommended to give him medications on your own. In this case, it is best to use non-hormonal ointments and creams.
The most effective among them for urticaria are the following:
- "Fenistil" is a gel that blocks receptors and quickly relieves skin itching.
- "La Cree" - a cream that perfectly soothes the epidermis and relieves puffiness. It is made from natural ingredients, so it can be used to treat even newborns.
- "Drapolen-cream" - is prescribed, as a rule, for urticaria, which proceeds in a mild form and does not have pronounced symptoms.
- "Bepanten" - accelerates skin recovery after receiving wounds.
In addition, Gistan is considered a good cream. It perfectly relieves symptoms, as well as moisturizes and softens the skin.
Corticosteroid drugs
With urticaria in children, treatment at home can be effective when using hormonal drugs.
In pediatrics, the following tools are widely used:
- "Advantan" - well removes the symptoms of urticaria, excellently eliminates pain and itching, and also moisturizes the skin well, making it softer and silky.
- "Soderm" - stops the inflammatory process and reduces the intensity of the clinical manifestations of urticaria.
It is worth noting that the treatment of this disease with the use of hormonal drugs is prescribed in very rare cases, since they can cause a huge number of side effects, so in no case should you use them without consulting a therapist.
Folk recipes
Urticaria in children (photos, symptoms and treatment are discussed in detail in this article) can be quickly defeated using folk methods that our ancestors used for many centuries. Moreover, they can be both external and internal. Let's dwell on each of them in more detail and consider the most effective ones.
One of the best remedies for external treatment of urticaria is hydrogen peroxide. It helps to cope with many problems, so almost everyone has a home. The peroxide is diluted with ordinary pure water in a ratio of 1 to 1, after which the affected areas of the skin are treated with a solution 4-5 times a day. After only a short period of time, the unpleasant sensations will disappear in the baby, and the symptoms of an allergic reaction will also significantly decrease. However, you must understand that this remedy cannot be removed from the body by an allergen, therefore you can’t do without taking medications.
In addition, the following folk recipes will help to cope with urticaria (in the photo the symptoms in children are almost the same):
- cool lotions and baths that help narrow blood vessels and slow down the spread of allergen throughout the body;
- applying to the affected areas of the child’s skin a paste of soda diluted with water (for this it is necessary to add a little water to 2 tablespoons of soda to make a slurry);
- treatment of skin with a solution of vinegar diluted with warm water in the following proportion: for one dessert spoon of vinegar, one tablespoon of warm water.
To increase the effectiveness of therapy, external treatment can be combined with the intake of fish oil. It is rich in various acids that help relieve inflammation. In addition, with urticaria, eggshell helps well. Hard-boiled eggs, then peeled, remove the inner film from the shell and grind into powder. Then a small amount is diluted in 3-6 drops of juice and given half a teaspoon in the morning or evening for a month. After this, take a break, if necessary, repeat the course of treatment. Also, on the egg shell, you can insist water and treat it with the skin of the child. For 3000 ml of boiling water, a shell of 20 eggs is taken, it is necessary to insist throughout the day.
Phytotherapy
Let's dwell on this in more detail. If urticaria was found in children, treatment at home can be carried out using various medicinal herbs. They are used both for internal administration and external therapy. In alternative medicine, there is a huge number of phytoreceptions that allow you to make the symptoms of urticaria less pronounced and quickly defeat this ailment.
With nettle fever, aloe juice used to treat the skin is very effective. It eliminates itching, burning and pain, and also improves the protective functions of the skin. In addition, it can be added a few drops to any drink. In this case, the juice will help stop and eliminate the allergen from the body, as well as increase the efficiency of the immune system.
Another magic remedy is green tea. A bag of green tea is taken per cup and 200 ml of boiling water is poured. Who would have thought that this drink not only has a unique taste and aroma, but also allows you to cure some skin diseases. And all thanks to its excellent antihistamine properties. Many varieties of green tea contain flavonoids that prevent oxidative and toxic processes in soft tissues. In addition, this product is valuable in that it enhances the protective functions of the body.
Urticaria in children (a photo of this disease can cause shock in many adults) can be defeated with the help of ginger root. This plant has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects, helps to normalize the blood circulation of the skin, cleanses the body of toxic substances and relieves swelling. One ginger root is cut into slices, put in a liter jar and pour it to the top with boiling water. After that, they insist for 2-3 hours. When the product is ready, honey is added to it to taste and given to the baby before bedtime.
Another good remedy for many dermatological diseases is a nettle broth. This plant blocks allergens and helps to eliminate them from the body. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory and firming effects, and also stimulates regeneration processes. To prepare the infusion, pour two tablespoons of dried and ground raw materials with one glass of boiling water. The drug is taken in the morning and evening inside of 200 milliliters. You can also add a tablespoon of vinegar to it and use for compresses.
Urticaria in children at home can be treated with burdock root. To do this, do the following:
- 150 grams of raw material pour 1 liter of boiling water.
- Let it brew, then strain.
- Give the child drink twice a day, 50 ml.
The infusion improves metabolic processes, has a diuretic effect, helps cleanse the body of toxins and relieves swelling.
A few words about nutrition
Since urticaria in children (photos, symptoms and treatment were presented in this article) is often accompanied by allergies, it is important to pay great attention to the daily diet of the baby. At the same time, you should understand that a diet is not a panacea for all ills, it is not a therapy as such, however, it can significantly alleviate the course of the disease.
When adjusting the diet, it is very important to make sure that it contains as many foods rich in vitamins as possible, especially B, C and E, since they contribute to the following:
- help the body cope with stress;
- stimulate the production of the hormone of happiness;
- inhibit the activity of the allergen;
- minimize the likelihood of re-development of the disease.
One of the most important is vitamin B5. It is found in foods such as walnuts, mushrooms, in legumes, pasta, and bread. Vitamin C is equally important. Citrus fruits are a good source. If for any reason it is not possible to give them to the child, ascorbic acid comes to the rescue. It is also recommended to introduce avocados, papaya, blackberries and cherries into the baby’s daily diet. They have a special substance that stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are responsible for the fight against viruses and bacteria.
Vitamin E strengthens the immune system, so if there is urticaria in children, treatment at home should always be combined with proper nutrition. The best sources of tocopherol are olive oil, cabbage, seaweed, eggs and spinach.
In addition to vitamins, a special substance called bromelain helps to increase the effectiveness of the treatment of urticaria. Especially a lot of it in pineapples. It excellently relieves inflammation, eliminates symptoms and speeds up the healing process.
Among the useful products, the following can also be distinguished:
- Parsley. It can be either eaten raw or added to food.
- Anchovies. Rich in selenium and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- Flax seeds. They contain a lot of nutrients in their composition, so they are perfect as a breakfast if urticaria appears in children. Photos of the disease look just awful.
- Sweet potato. It has a hypoallergenic effect, it can be given even to babies with food allergies.
By making adjustments to the child’s diet for urticaria, all products that could cause the development of the disease should be completely excluded from it.
Recommendations of pediatricians
Most modern doctors argue that if urticaria is performed in children, treatment at home rarely brings positive results. This is due to the fact that therapy should be comprehensive, and it is impossible to carry out it without qualified medical care. As practice shows, alternative methods are aimed only at relieving general symptoms, while they are not struggling with the cause of the disease. Therefore, when the first clinical manifestations of urticaria occur, you should immediately go to the hospital to undergo an examination and start treatment.
Conclusion
Nettle rash is a dangerous disease that can lead to various serious complications, so it requires immediate treatment. In the early stages, it lends itself well to therapy, but if the parents did not show their child to the doctor on time, the ailment will continue to develop and it will be much more difficult to cope with it. Therefore, do not risk the health of your own baby, do not self-medicate, and with any problems, immediately contact a qualified doctor.