The appearance of red dots under the eyes of a child is a rather rare symptom in ophthalmology. It occurs as a result of rupture of capillaries and is a point hemorrhage. This phenomenon is called "petechiae" and can be observed not only in the form of red dots on the eyelids and under the eyes, but can also be like a rash on any other part of the body and even the mucous membranes.
What are petechiae?
These are small red spots that appear on the skin or mucous membranes as a result of subcutaneous bleeding. Depending on the cause of their formation, petechiae can be either completely harmless or requiring immediate treatment.
Outwardly, the petechiae resemble a pronounced rash. They can be red, brown or purple. As a rule, such a “rash” is flat to the touch and does not change color when pressed. The size of the red dots under the eyes of the child and on other parts of the body can vary from 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter.
A distinctive feature of petechiae is the fact that their appearance is not accompanied by any unpleasant symptoms: pain, tearing, pain, burning, and so on. The only exceptions are cases where the appearance of small red dots under the eyes of a child was caused by an allergic reaction or dermatological disease, which led to vascular damage.
Causes of petechiae
Why do red dots appear under the eyes? There are many possible answers to this question. For example, the causes of red dots under the eyes of a child may be:
- insect bites or other physical damage (shock);
- various dermatological diseases;
- allergic reactions;
- irritation resulting from the use of inappropriate cosmetics;
- lack of oxygen in the skin (hypoxia);
- exposure to adverse environmental conditions: sudden changes in temperature, ultraviolet radiation, strong wind, and so on;
- avitaminosis;
- nervous exhaustion and stress, which led to the development of inflammatory processes in the vascular system;
- eczema;
- seborrheic dermatitis;
- leukemia;
- renal failure.
In some cases, the appearance of petechiae can lead to the use of medications, the purpose of which is to reduce blood coagulation (anticoagulants). This group of drugs includes heparin and aspirin.
Also, there is often the option of the appearance of red dots under the eyes after vomiting, an explosive cough, or prolonged crying, which caused the child a lot of tension.
Petechiae or thermal rash?
Some parents confuse petechiae with a thermal rash (in common people - prickly heat). It is important to remember that these are two completely different phenomena! While petechiae are located on a specific area of the skin, sweating will certainly be noticeable not only on the face, but also in the chest, as well as on the back. In addition, the outwardly thermal rash resembles small red pimples. Petechiae, as mentioned earlier, are flat to the touch and are located under the skin.
Other types of petechiae
To create a complete picture of petechiae, it is worth clarifying that they can be observed not only in the eye area, but also in other parts of the body of both a child and an adult. Moreover, in some cases, they are evidence of not only injuries or allergies, but also dangerous diseases.
- Vasculitis and autoimmune diseases. Red dots appear on the legs and arms. Soon they may disappear, and in their place the skin will begin to peel off.
- Staphylococcal infection. During it, petechiae are observed on the skin and oral mucosa.
- Gonorrhea. In addition to standard symptoms, the disease may be accompanied by the appearance of petechiae in the lower legs and arms.
- Enterovirus infection. In this case, the appearance of petechiae is considered a good sign, since it indicates that the patient has recovered. Red dots may be on the face, back, and chest. After two days, they disappear without a trace.
- Meningitis. With this disease, petechiae manifest themselves in the form of a hemorrhagic rash, which rapidly covers the stomach, buttocks and legs.
Diagnostics
In order to determine the cause of the red dots under the eyes and have an idea of their nature, the doctor will prescribe a full examination for the child. It will include:
- Consultation with narrower specialists. In particular, the list includes a dermatologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist.
- Allergotest.
- The immunogram.
- Blood analysis.
- Scraping. The procedure is necessary to identify a possible fungal pathogen.
- Colonoscopy, ultrasound. Examination data are carried out if there is a suspicion of pathology of the internal organs.
Only after identifying the exact reason why a vessel burst under the eye (red dots appear precisely because of this), the specialist will prescribe the child an adequate treatment.
Treatment of red dots around the eyes
If the red dots under the eyes of the child appeared as a result of an insect bite, there is no need for any special treatment. The only exceptions are cases when the baby has simultaneously developed an allergic reaction.
Similarly, treatment is not necessary when small red dots under the eyes formed as a result of a nervous strain. It is enough just to provide the child with peace of mind, to normalize the schedule of his activity and sleep.
In all other cases, the doctor will prescribe the use of certain medications. Their choice will depend on the cause of the problem.
Antihistamines
As an example, you can recall such drugs as:
- "Radevit." The cream perfectly softens the skin, moisturizes it, enhances the regeneration processes and relieves itching. The advantage of the drug is the absence of hormonal components in it.
- Gistan. The medication is available in the form of capsules or cream. It is used to relieve itching and prevent new inflammatory foci.
- "Traumeel." The specialist may prescribe the use of the drug in the form of drops, tablets or ointments. Regardless of the form of release, the product normalizes blood rheology, increases the tone of the walls of blood vessels, and relieves pain. It is also effective for skin diseases and injuries. By the way, today Traumeel has no analogues in its type of impact.
Glucocorticosteroids
Preparations of this group are prescribed in cases where the appearance of red dots under the eyes of a child was provoked by some types of skin diseases:
- Lokoid. The ointment is used to treat glucocorticosteroid-sensitive uninfected skin diseases. In particular, this applies to dermatitis and eczema. The active substance of the drug is hydrocortisone.
- Momat. The cream has anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects. It is prescribed in the presence of irritation during dermatosis, as well as with seborrheic dermatitis. The active substance of the drug is mometasone.
- Advantan. Ointment stops the development of inflammatory processes, reduces the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Most often, "Advantan" is prescribed for various types of eczema and dermatitis.
Other external means
During treatment, the doctor can prescribe not only the main drug, but also the use of additional funds for external use. For example, it can be:
- antifungal agents;
- antiseptics (salicylic acid, boric alcohol);
- ointments with zinc;
- ointments with calendula and chamomile;
- antiviral ointments ("Acyclovir");
- tar-based hygiene products;
- camphor alcohol based menthol lotions.
Additional therapeutic measures
Together with the main therapeutic treatment, you may need to use:
- mineral and vitamin complexes, in particular calcium, zinc and vitamins of groups A and E;
- enterosorbents;
- antiviral drugs;
- antihistamines;
- light sedatives (Novo-Passit, valerian, motherwort, glycine).
All of them do not affect the red dots under the eyes of the child directly, but can contribute to eliminating the cause of their occurrence.
Folk remedies
If the cause of the appearance of red dots is not a serious disease and there is no need for medical treatment, you can use alternative methods. Masks made from natural products will help eliminate a cosmetic defect:
- Lemon. It is necessary to mix a tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and a spoonful of kefir. The mask must be applied carefully, avoiding the area around the eyes.
- Sour cream. To cook it, you need to mix a tablespoon of fat sour cream, one grated potato and a few drops of tangerine juice. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little water to it. The finished mask must be kept on the face for at least 25 minutes.
- Honey. To prepare it, you need a tablespoon of honey, one yolk, a couple of drops of juniper and orange oils. Daily use of such a mask for only 5 minutes will help get rid of red dots in one week.
- Potato To prepare it, just grate the potatoes. The mask is applied to the affected area of the skin for three minutes, and then washed off with plain water. As a rule, improvements are noticeable after a few days.
Herbal compresses are also highly effective in combating the problem. To cook them, you need to make a decoction of a string, cornflower or dill seeds, moisten gauze in them and put it on your face.
Home remedies for eliminating red dots are harmless, but you should pay attention to an important point. Their use is prohibited in the presence of an allergy to components. Otherwise, instead of the desired result, you can only aggravate the situation.
Preventative measures
It is unlikely to completely protect your child from the appearance of red dots. But compliance with some preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of a problem to a minimum. Experts recommend:
- to strengthen the immune system;
- maintain a balance of minerals and vitamins in the body;
- avoid stressful situations (including avoiding prolonged tantrums);
- to live an active lifestyle;
- create a correct schedule of sleep and activity, avoid overwork;
- avoid contact with allergens;
- provide the child with a balanced diet, which must include dairy products, fish, liver, cheeses, legumes, cereals;
- properly care for your skin and use only special baby cosmetics (soap, cream, shampoo, and so on).
Be healthy!