Skin rashes in children
A rash is a skin reaction and can be caused by many different factors such as a side effect of a certain medication, an infection or an allergic reaction.
Also, many different substances can cause similar rashes, as the skin’s ability to react is limited.
Very often, symptoms accompanying the rash help to make the correct diagnosis, such as a recent tick bite, exposure to other sick children or adults, initiation of antibiotic use, exposure to unknown substances, or recent immunizations.
Most rashes caused by viruses are not harmful to your child and will go away on their own over time without any treatment. However, some of the rashes in children can be a sign of serious or even life-threatening conditions. As a parent, you should be familiar with these rashes.
In most cases, the rashes look identical, making it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. Whenever you suspect a potentially dangerous condition, consult your GP.
What are the causes, signs and symptoms of life-threatening skin rashes in a child?
Rashes associated with life-threatening clinical conditions are common and in such a case the child looks very bad.
• Fever and petechiae
Petechiae are small red or purple flat spots on the skin that do not fade when pressed with the hand. They are caused by broken capillaries in the skin. Petechiae can also appear without fever on the head and neck after a strong cough. Most children with petechiae and fever have a mild viral illness. However, the presence of fever and petechiae at the same time is associated with bacterial sepsis and especially with meningococcal disease. This disease is highly contagious and extremely contagious. Any child with a high fever and petechiae should be seen by a doctor immediately.
Treatment of Skin Rashes in Children
Petichiae disappear completely within 7 to 10 days without treatment. However, an examination by a doctor should be imperative to assess whether the development of a serious illness has begun. Your child may need blood tests and x-rays to find the cause of the petechiae and fever.
Sometimes it is also necessary to perform a lumbar puncture to determine if the cause is not meningitis.
Skin Rashes in Newborns
When you bring your baby home from the hospital, any little bump or redness causes concern. It is completely normal for a baby to develop rashes because it has suddenly been forced toadapt to an environmentthat is different from the amniotic fluid it has been living in.
Diaper rash as well as scalp rash are very common in newborns. But if you suspect that the rash is due to something more serious, consult your doctor.
Very common in newborns is milium, in which small bumps with a diameter of 1 mm appear. on the nose, cheeks and chin. The white spots disappear spontaneously in the first few weeks of the baby’s life, do not require treatment, and are non-scarring and non-contagious.
Babies often develop and seborrheic dermatitis, which is a red, oily scaly rash that can appear on the scalp, behind the ears, in the armpits and diaper area. In most cases, these rashes disappear spontaneously after a few months without treatment.
