Usually, a rash on a child’s body causes a lot of concern among parents. Indeed, it is a common symptom of various infections, causing a lot of discomfort. However timely treatment skin rashes allows you to quickly forget about itching and burning.
A rash in a child can appear not only on the entire body, but also affect only one area. The number of acceptable diagnoses is reduced and recovery occurs faster
On the head
The rash bothers babies in different parts of the body.
- Small dots on the back of the head Pink colour most often they talk about overheating and the development of prickly heat.
- Abundant bubbles and blisters on the back of the head or cheeks indicate infection with scabies.
- Inflammations in the cheeks and beard indicate allergies to food or medications.
- If a child has a rash on his eyelids, it means that the child has been given inappropriate hygiene products. If the rashes on the eyelids look like scales or become crusty, dermatitis is likely to develop.
Around the neck
On the hands and wrists
In the abdominal area
A rash on the abdomen in the form of red blisters occurs in newborns from toxic erythema, which goes away on its own. The abdominal area and hip area most often suffer from pemphigus. The disease begins with slight redness, blisters appear and begin to burst. Similar symptoms are typical for exfoliating dermatitis.
When the bacterial microflora is disturbed in the abdominal area, erysipelas. Don’t forget about acceptable minor rashes from allergies, prickly heat and infections such as chickenpox or scabies.
On the lower back
On the inner and outer thighs
Rashes on a child’s thighs usually appear due to poor hygiene. Often the baby simply sweats in his diapers and suffers from poor-quality clothing. The result is prickly heat. Allergic reactions often provoke inflammation on the inner thigh.
A rash on the thighs indicates the presence of measles, rubella, or scarlet fever. In rare cases, rashes indicate diseases of the circulatory system.
In the groin area
A groin rash is the result of infrequent diaper changes or skin contact with dirty diapers. Red diaper rash appears on the skin, and bacteria multiply in it. Miliaria in the groin area in the form pink spots It often appears in a baby as a result of overheating in the sun. Sometimes the source of the rash is candidiasis. Finally, the baby may develop an allergy to diapers.
On the buttocks
The rash on the butt has a nature similar to the causes of groin irritation. Rarely changing diapers and violating hygiene rules lead to an inflammatory process. The butt area can suffer from allergies to food or diapers, prickly heat and diathesis.
On the legs, knees and heels and can itch
A small rash on the legs usually appears as a result of dermatitis or allergies. If it itches and resembles mosquito bites, most likely the baby actually suffered from insects.
The cause of a rash on the legs can be an infection or injury to the skin. If your child has itchy heels, the rash is most likely caused by a fungus. An allergic reaction on the heels manifests itself in the form of flaky spots, itching and causing swelling feet. On knee joints the rash can appear with eczema, lichen and psoriasis.
On all parts of the body
Inflammation of the skin throughout the body often indicates infection. If a child is covered with a small rash and it itches, the reason is probably an allergic reaction (see:) of the body to a strong irritant. If there is no itching from the rash, these causes can be excluded. Most likely there is a problem with metabolism or the functioning of internal organs.
When the rash all over the body is also colorless, most likely the baby is working too hard sebaceous glands. Vitamin deficiency and hormonal imbalances in a child’s body can make themselves felt through rashes without color.
Nature of the rash
If you look closely at your baby's rash, you will notice features. Color, shape and structure.
Like nettle
A rash that resembles nettle spots indicates a special type of allergy - urticaria. Pink blisters on the skin are very itchy and accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Most often, urticaria is provoked by hot water, stress, strong physical exercise. The rash resembles small blisters on the chest or neck.
Like a mosquito bite
If the rash resembles a mosquito bite, the baby has an allergy to poor nutrition. In newborns this reaction often indicates irregularities in the menu of a nursing mother. Mosquito bites indicate the impact of any blood-sucking insects on the skin, such as ticks or fleas.
In the form of spots
A patchy rash is a very common form of skin inflammation. Most often, the reason lies in a disease of the integument itself or in the presence of an infection. The size of the spots and their color play a big role. Rashes similar to spots appear with lichen, allergies, dermatitis and eczema.
Rough to the touch
The rough rash is most often caused by eczema. At the same time they suffer back sides palms and face. Rough rashes that resemble sandpaper are sometimes caused by keratosis, a form of allergy. Small pimples affect the back and sides of the arms, but sometimes inflammation appears on the inside of the thighs.
In the form of bubbles and blisters
A rash in the form of blisters appears on the baby’s body as a result of urticaria (see:), pemphigus. Among infectious diseases Chickenpox also causes rashes with blisters.
To match your skin color
Flesh-colored growths on the skin are called papules. A rash of this color indicates eczema, psoriasis or contact dermatitis. Sometimes a colorless rash is caused by hormonal changes in the child's body.
Redness due to infections
The signs accompanying the rash often indicate the development of a serious illness in the baby.
For sore throat
Often, when observing a baby primary signs tonsillitis (fever and cough), after a certain time his parents notice a rash on his body. Here, the development of an infectious disease against the background of weakened immunity is likely. Sometimes redness appears due to tonsillitis. Do not forget that in the process of treating a sore throat, a child often develops an allergy to antibiotics.
For ARVI
The appearance of a rash in combination with usual symptoms ARVI has similar causes. A child may have an intolerance to drug components or an allergy to folk remedies. Most often, redness occurs after a course of antibiotics for ARVI.
From chickenpox
Chickenpox causes itchy spots in babies that almost immediately become large blisters. The rash occurs on the palms, face, torso and even in the mouth. The disease is accompanied by high fever and headaches. When the bubbles burst, the baby's skin becomes crusty.
The answer to the question of how long it takes for the rash to completely go away depends on the timeliness of treatment. Usually 3-5 days are enough.
When measles develops
In the case of measles, the baby usually suffers from fever and large red spots that almost merge with each other. The rash from measles appears first on the head, and then spreads to the torso and limbs. The first signs of measles resemble a common cold. This is a strong dry cough, sneezing and tears. Then the temperature rises. How many days does it take for the rashes to go away? As a rule, the skin recovers on the third day.
From infection with scarlet fever
Scarlet fever signals itself by the appearance of small dots on the 2nd day of illness. There is especially a lot of small rash in the elbow and knee bends, on the palms, and in the folds of the skin. The speed of treatment usually does not affect how many days the redness disappears. The rash disappears on its own after 1-2 weeks.
For meningitis
A bright red or purple rash appears on the body of children when meningococcal infection. The disease affects the blood vessels of the skin, causing inflammation on the skin different shapes. With meningitis, there are rashes on the mucous membranes, on the legs and arms, and on the sides of the body.
When to call a doctor
- The child develops a fever and the temperature rises to 40 degrees.
- A rash appears all over the body and unbearable itching occurs.
- The baby begins to experience headaches, vomiting, and confusion.
- The rash looks like star-shaped hemorrhages.
- Swelling and difficulty breathing appear.
What absolutely should not be done
- Squeeze out pustules yourself.
- Rip off or pop bubbles.
- Scratch the rash.
- Apply brightly colored preparations to the skin (this will make it difficult to make a diagnosis).
In general, a rash is a symptom of many diseases. Sometimes it leads to serious problems, and sometimes it goes away on its own. In any case, it would be a good idea to consult a doctor.
Prevention
- Timely vaccinations can protect a child from infections (But remember, vaccinations are not always beneficial, everything is individual!). There are now vaccinations against meningitis and rashes caused by it. Ask your doctor for more details.
- Proper introduction of complementary foods can protect a small child from allergic reactions. It is recommended to teach your child a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. This will not only prevent many diseases and strengthen the immune system, but also reduce the risk of developing allergic rash.
- If you suspect that your baby has contracted an infection, immediately limit his contact with a potential source of infection.
Let's sum it up
- Its localization plays a big role in determining the cause of the rash. The areas of the body that come into most contact with clothing or diapers usually suffer from dermatitis and heat rash. The baby's face often becomes covered with an allergy rash. A rash all over the body indicates the development of an infection or a metabolic disorder in the body.
- Pay attention to the shape of the rash and its color. Small dots indicate allergic reactions, and large spots- about infections. Colorless rash is not contagious, and roughness indicates disorders in the child’s body.
- Follow general condition baby, because other symptoms allow you to accurately determine the factor reddening skin. However, keep in mind that these diseases, like acute respiratory viral infections and tonsillitis, very rarely cause a rash on their own. It is worth observing the child's daily routine, because the rash often appears after visiting the pool and similar public places.
- If a child's rash is accompanied by coughing, vomiting and high fever, we are talking about an infectious disease. At the same time, the whole body becomes covered with spots and itches. With proper treatment, rashes in children disappear after 3-5 days. Sometimes a rash and vomiting are signs of dysbiosis.
- If a rash becomes a cause of concern in a newborn baby, the range of its causes is small. Often, pimples without pus appear on the neck and face of children 2 weeks after birth, disappearing on their own. In children under one year old small rash most often caused by heat rash due to wearing diapers or tight clothing. Red and pink rashes small child associated with allergies to new foods.
- When a rash appears after sun exposure, the baby is said to have photodermatosis. Sun allergies are accompanied by itching, redness of the skin and boils. The rash is usually rough on the limbs, face and chest. Crusts, scales, and bubbles form.
- Allergic reactions in a child’s body can manifest themselves to a variety of irritants. Often, after visiting the pool, a rash appears on the body of children due to the abundance of chlorine in the water. It has already been said that rashes can form even after a course of antibiotics for a sore throat. If we are talking about the treatment of serious diseases such as leukemia, allergies appear within a month.
- A small, bright rash in children under the third year of life can appear when new teeth erupt. Here, rashes are accompanied low temperature and weakened immunity due to the appearance of teeth. Most often, teething rashes are located on the neck.
- If the rash in babies is not constant (appears and disappears), most likely there is contact with an irritant, causing allergies or dermatitis, is carried out periodically. In addition, the rash disappears and appears again with the development of infectious diseases (measles and scarlet fever), urticaria.
- For prevention severe rash For a child, do not try to introduce new foods into his diet too quickly. If your baby shows signs of allergies after swimming in the pool, choose another establishment where the water is not treated with chlorine.
Thank you
The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!
Causes
Rash on the body of babies can be caused by many diseases. Moreover, some of them represent real threat life. Therefore, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor even with the most minor rashes.Transient vascular phenomenon in a newborn
The formation of all functions child's body causes changes and in the state skin. There are two completely physiological conditions accompanied by a rash in newborn babies:- Marbling of skin color,
- Rapid change in skin color.
Kinds
A rash is a disturbance in the color or quality of the skin in certain areas. There are many types of this phenomenon. Rashes are quite often observed on the body and face of people of any age, but a child’s skin is very delicate, and therefore is more prone to rashes.In the first months after birth, the baby's skin constantly changes. Some changes are physiological in nature and not dangerous, while others may be caused by infections or malfunction of any organs.
Marbling of the dermis– this is a change in the color of the skin of the child’s entire body and limbs, which is the body’s response to a decrease in temperature. Usually, when the body warms up, the spots disappear immediately. This phenomenon can be observed up to six months of age and is normal. It does not require any special measures.
A rapidly passing change in skin color - it is noticeable in cases where a naked baby lies on one side and is turned over to the other. One side becomes more pink, and the other, on the contrary, becomes paler. The color changes very quickly, literally before our eyes, and returns to normal in a few minutes. Skin color evens out faster if the child cries or moves actively. This phenomenon is observed only in every tenth baby born on time, and most often parents do not pay attention to it. You can notice a change in skin color from the first days of a baby’s life, and the phenomenon goes away by the age of one month. Pediatricians explain this phenomenon by the development of the hypothalamus, which is responsible for the expansion of small vessels.
Erythema toxicum– this phenomenon is observed in 55% of newborns and occurs in babies born at term with normal body weight. Signs of toxic erythema can be detected both immediately upon birth and after two to three days.
With toxic erythema, red, swollen spots up to 3 millimeters in size appear on the baby’s body, as well as blisters, which gradually take on the appearance of “mosquito bites.” Typically, rashes are observed on the face, arms and legs, and body. The child’s feet and palms are not affected by this type of rash.
During the newborn period, a vesiculopustular rash is a consequence of infection with herpes, candida, staphylococcus or other pathogenic infections.
To determine the pathogen, an analysis of the contents of the bubbles is taken. Most often, the rashes do not affect the baby’s condition and disappear on their own in a week or less. But sometimes they can worsen his well-being and last longer. Despite this, erythema is not dangerous to the health and life of the child and does not require special methods therapy.
Transient pustular melanosis
This phenomenon is five times more common in children of the Negroid race ( in 5% versus 1% in babies with white skin color). Rash in in this case It is a pigmented rash, like large freckles. The skin does not turn red. At first, the skin becomes covered with red spots and blisters, which after a while burst and in their place “freckles” appear, which independently discolor after about a month.
Hormonal acne of newborns
This phenomenon occurs in approximately every fifth newborn baby. Usually these are closed comedones covering the cheeks and forehead, rarely there are blisters, red pimples or open comedones.
It is believed that these rashes appear when the child’s sebaceous glands increase their activity, caused by male sex hormones obtained from the mother’s body or produced in the child’s body. This is a temporary phenomenon that disappears on its own without a trace. Most often, newborn acne is not treated with anything. But sometimes, if they are too abundant, the skin is lubricated with benzoyl peroxide ointment. Before use, you should test for tolerance by smearing a small area of your baby's skin on the inner bend of the elbow. If acne does not disappear long time, this may indicate increased work of the adrenal glands and other metabolic disorders.
Sebaceous cysts
These are yellowish or white bubbles with a diameter of up to 2 millimeters, which are formed when the secretions of the sebaceous glands in the skin are inhibited. This phenomenon is observed in half of children in the neonatal period. They usually appear on the face, but rarely on the mucous membranes, genitals and limbs. Sebaceous cysts do not need to be treated with anything; they will go away on their own no later than by the age of three months.
Prickly heat
This type of rash occurs when sweat cannot pass through the ducts and is inhibited in sweat glands Oh. The work of sweat glands and ducts in newborn babies is still imperfect, so prickly heat is a fairly common phenomenon. It is observed in 4 children out of 10 born. Most often observed in the first four weeks after birth. The rash may be red or may resemble millet grains.
Since the disease usually goes away on its own and does not affect the overall well-being of the baby at all, no treatment is carried out. Medicines are used only in special cases. Many mothers and fathers are embarrassed by unsightly crusts on the baby's head. They can be easily removed with a soft brush after bathing and treatment with an emollient cream. Crusts are removed very quickly and effectively even after treating the skin with vegetable oil.
Some doctors prescribe shampoos with tar or selenium sulfide. However, these products should not be used for their own purposes.
Hemorrhagic
If the rash is caused by a vascular or blood disease, it is hemorrhagic in nature, which means small hemorrhages between the layers of the dermis. These rashes can be small or large and may look like bruises ranging from dark purple to yellow color, or there may be small “spider veins” scattered throughout the body.Such symptoms should alert parents and serve as a reason to visit a doctor.
During teething
When teething, many babies suffer from copious discharge saliva. Since saliva almost constantly flows from the mouth and further down the chin, it becomes covered with a small red rash.If you constantly gently blot the corners of your baby's mouth and chin with a soft cloth, a rash will not appear.
Some children develop an allergic rash due to teething. This will be discussed in more detail below.
Allergic
This type of rash usually appears suddenly. Often, along with rashes, the child suffers from the flow of tears and rhinitis. He tries to scratch the areas covered with the rash, as they usually itch intensely. An allergy rash is very clearly visible; it protrudes above the surface of the skin.Eliminating the allergen, as well as taking an antihistamine ( as prescribed by a doctor).
From antibiotics
Rash and other allergic manifestations are observed in approximately 1% of patients. The most common symptoms are urticaria and contact allergic dermatitis using local forms antibiotics Urticaria is most often provoked by sulfonamides and beta-lactams. The rash appears a few hours after the first dose of the medicine and disappears almost immediately after stopping its use.Allergic contact dermatitis manifests itself in redness of the skin, burning, itching and the appearance of small blisters on the skin. If the drug is used for the first time, symptoms may appear after five to seven days. If it was used before, then dermatitis may develop on the very first day. To eliminate the symptoms of the disease, you should discontinue the antibiotic ointment and treat the affected areas with glucocorticoid preparations ( as prescribed by a doctor).
After vaccination
Allergic rashes similar to nettle burns are local reactions to vaccinations and are observed quite often.But if the rash appears on large areas of the body, then this is already general reaction body.
There are three probable reasons the appearance of a rash after vaccination.
1.
The vaccine components multiply in the skin.
2.
Allergy to any component of the vaccine.
3.
The vaccine caused bleeding.
If the vaccine is not inactivated, then mild rashes are a normal reaction of the body to the introduction of foreign microbes. This is typical for vaccines against measles, rubella, and mumps.
Rash in the form small dots may be a consequence of a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. This happens after rubella vaccination, but very rarely. But the same points may indicate that vaccination provoked the development of vasculitis - this is a severe autoimmune disorder affecting the vascular walls.
In some cases, vaccination provokes specific reaction body, for example, this happens after a measles vaccination: five to ten days after the vaccine is administered, the body may become covered with a rash, which quickly passes. Body temperature may also increase.
Temperature with scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a highly contagious infectious disease, the main symptoms of which are sharp increase body temperature, minor rash and inflammation of the tonsils. The disease develops under the influence of streptococcus. Children from two to seven years old are more susceptible to scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is more common during the cold season.The source of infection is a sick person who releases pathogens with tiny particles of saliva and bronchial mucus during sneezing, coughing and even conversation. Incubation period from two to seven days. After which the child’s body temperature rises sharply to 39–40 degrees, his health worsens, and his throat hurts. Rashes can be observed starting from the end of the first day. The spots appear on the neck, shoulders, chest and back, after which a short time cover the entire skin. The rashes are most intense on the side surfaces of the body, stomach, and inner surfaces of the elbows. Rashes bright color, very small and closely spaced. The skin often itches.
Very characteristic are rashes on the face that cover it thickly, leaving only the nasolabial triangle, called scarlet fever, clear. After 7–9 days, the rash turns pale and the skin begins to peel off. The first places to peel off are the earlobes, neck, fingertips, feet and palms. The skin is completely cleared after 15 – 20 days.
Vomiting with chickenpox
This is very common viral disease, most often affecting children under the age of 6 years. The virus is transmitted only from a sick person, since it lives in the external environment for only 10 minutes and does not tolerate ultraviolet radiation and high temperature. Therefore, children in kindergartens and primary schools are most often infected. The danger of the disease is that the sick person begins to spread the infection two days before the first symptoms appear.The child’s temperature rises to 38–39 degrees, he is lethargic, and often vomits. In the very first hours, the body is covered with small vesicles with a diameter of up to 5 mm. The skin around the blister turns red. At first, there is a clear liquid inside the vesicles, which after a day becomes cloudy, the middle of the vesicle wrinkles and a crust appears. After a week, two crusts dry out and fall off on their own. At the site of each bubble, a red spot remains for quite a long time. If you pick off the crust ahead of time, a chip will remain. The blisters are usually very itchy. If they also form on the mucous membranes, the child may cough.
The first rashes appear on the head, face, then on the body and, finally, on the arms and legs. In some cases, they even appear on the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes. Vesicles never form on the feet and palms.
A feature characteristic of this particular disease is that when new blisters appear, the child’s temperature may rise.
For measles
This is a viral infection, the incubation period of the disease is on average 10 days, but can vary from 9 days to 3 weeks. Distinctive feature measles is that some signs of illness appear in the baby already during the incubation period: he eats poorly, is lethargic, his eyes are red, he coughs and sneezes. Sometimes body temperature increases.With the onset of the clinical period of the disease, the temperature increases to 38 - 39 degrees, rhinitis is already clearly noticeable, the child coughs in a special rude way, reminiscent of a dog barking. He has swollen and red mucous membranes of the eyes, tears flow from the eyes and pus is released. The child's eyes hurt, he cannot look at bright light.
Against the background of the above, a rash called measles enanthema also appears. These are small red spots in the mouth and on the palate. In addition, on the inside of the oral mucosa you can see whitish grains, similar to semolina. It is these whitish spots that clearly indicate measles - this is a very characteristic sign of the disease.
But all these spots on the mucous membranes disappear as soon as a rash appears on the body. The child's temperature rises again and his general condition worsens.
The rash covers the entire surface of the body, it is very small, but can merge. Nearby, the rash appears as blisters up to 2 millimeters in diameter, around which the skin turns red and forms a spot a centimeter in diameter. Sometimes, with severe disease, the skin becomes covered with small hemorrhages.
The body becomes covered with a rash for 3 days. First the neck and face, then the body, upper legs and arms, then the feet. The rash is thicker on the face, shoulders, chest and neck.
After 4 days, the rash becomes less bright, the skin in the area of the rash peels off finely and darkens. 5 days after the first rash, the child’s body temperature decreases and his condition returns to normal. For about another 10 to 14 days, traces of rashes can be seen on the body, after which the skin is completely cleared.
For meningitis
The course of meningitis varies depending on what pathogen provoked it. A rash due to meningitis in children under 3 years of age is very rare and most often affects back wall throat. Most often, such rashes are caused by meningococci.If microorganisms are transferred by blood to other parts of the body, the skin may become covered with bright red rashes. These rashes are hemorrhagic in nature and represent hemorrhages from the capillaries. They indicate infection of the body with the causative agent of meningitis.
These rashes differ in that they most often cover the buttocks, thighs and back. They look like stars or irregularly shaped spots. This disease is very dangerous, so at the slightest suspicion you should immediately call a doctor or an ambulance.
For mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is a disease that is observed more often in children from 3 to 16 years of age. Transmitted by airborne droplets. The pathogen infects the lymph nodes and all lymphoid tissues of the body, including the spleen, tonsils and sometimes evenMany young children may develop a rash on their body. It can arise by various reasons. In some cases this is not dangerous, but sometimes such rashes indicate serious illnesses. If a suspicious rash appears, parents should take their child to a doctor, who will determine the cause of the disease and recommend what to do next.
Causes of rashes
A rash on a child’s body may occur for the following reasons:
- postpartum rashes;
- manifestation of infectious diseases - scarlet fever, mononucleosis, chickenpox, rubella, measles;
- atopic dermatitis;
- an allergic reaction that develops as a result of using hygiene products or eating food;
- mechanical damage to the skin and reaction to insect bites;
- problems with blood clotting.
Let's look at these reasons in more detail.
Rashes in newborns
Erythema toxicum. Such rashes can affect half of all full-term babies. They are pustules or white-yellow papules with a diameter of 1 - 2 mm with a red rim. Sometimes only red spots appear, which can be either single or covering the entire body (except for the feet and palms). The largest number of rashes occurs on the second day of life, after which they disappear. It is unknown why toxic erythema appears, but it goes away on its own.
Newborn acne. About 20% of all babies aged three weeks and older go through this condition. A rash in the form of pustules or inflamed papules appears on the face. It can be found much less frequently on the neck and scalp. The cause of this disease is the activation of the sebaceous glands by maternal hormones. Typically, such acne does not require treatment, you just need to maintain careful hygiene. Newborn acne, unlike juvenile acne, does not leave scars or spots and goes away before 6 months of age.
Prickly heat. Very often, newborns experience heat rash, especially in hot weather. It develops due to the fact that the baby is wrapped too tightly, and the contents of the sweat glands come out with great difficulty. A small red rash often affects the head, face and diaper rash areas. Spots, blisters and pustules almost never become inflamed and disappear with good care. A decoction of calendula, chamomile or string, added to a baby’s bath during bathing, helps fight heat rash.
Atopic dermatitis
Red spots on a child’s body occur when atopic dermatitis. This disease occurs in every 10 children, but the typical triad of symptoms is not observed in everyone. The triad includes:
- bronchial asthma;
- allergic rhinitis;
- eczema.
The first signs of pathology appear in the child in the first year of life, and the rash is localized mainly on the cheeks, face, extensor surfaces of the legs and arms. The baby develops severe itching, which can intensify at night, as well as with chemical and temperature effects on the skin. At acute form the rash appears in the form of red papules with liquid discharge. The subacute period is characterized by peeling of the skin, sometimes it can thicken. This is due to the fact that the child constantly scratches the affected areas.
Almost all children overcome this illness without consequences. Only with a hereditary predisposition can the disease develop into chronic form with the addition of allergic rhinitis or asthma.
To reduce itching and rashes, need to reduce reception time water procedures and stop contact with hard tissues, and treat the skin with moisturizing creams more often. If the skin itches very much, use hormonal ointments.
If the child has an individual intolerance to drugs and food products, then there may arise allergic rashes. They can cover the entire body and be of different shapes and sizes. A feature of an allergic rash is that it intensifies under the influence of an allergen and disappears after eliminating the latter. The only one unpleasant symptom This pathology is severe itching.
Quite rarely, Quincke's edema can develop., which is a severe reaction of the body to an allergen. It usually occurs on products or medications. In this case, the red rash on the child’s body lasts quite a long time, and swelling forms in the throat area, blocking the larynx and preventing breathing. This may also appear allergic manifestation like hives. It occurs on medications, foods, and under the influence of temperature factors.
Insect bites
Bites from ants, midges or mosquitoes usually leave marks that become very itchy within a few days. Much more trouble comes from the bites of wasps, bees or hornets. Such insects pierce the skin with a sting and inject poison that causes swelling, swelling, severe pain. The danger of such bites lies in the fact that that the child may develop an allergy, the rashes begin to quickly spread throughout the body, causing severe pain and itching. This may cause breathing problems, fainting, and sometimes anaphylactic shock. In this case, it is necessary to give the child an antihistamine.
Pediatric infectious diseases
A small red rash in a child may be a symptom of the following infectious diseases.
Chickenpox
With this disease, an itchy, small red rash appears., which after some time gives way to small blisters with infectious liquid inside. When they break through mechanical (carding) or naturally, red ulcerations remain on the skin. More often discomfort arise from such rashes if they occur in the mouth, genitals, or on the inside of the eyelids. This condition is accompanied by headache and fever.
Scratching the rash is strictly prohibited, as this will only delay recovery. To cure a child, rashes are lubricated with brilliant green or a solution of potassium permanganate. During illness, you should limit your baby’s communication with other people.
Measles
This disease is now quite rare. Its first symptoms can easily be confused with colds or digestive problems. Small red rash all over the body appears only a week after infection. It is preceded by fever and very high temperature, reaching up to 40 degrees. First of all, rashes appear on the neck and face, then they begin to spread to the shoulders, stomach, back, and chest. Lastly, the rash covers the legs and arms. When it subsides, the skin on the affected areas turns brown. The consequences of measles can be very severe.
Rubella and roseola
Very contagious disease. The incubation period proceeds without any symptoms. First of all, a rash appears behind the ears and on the back of the head. After a short period of time, the child’s entire body is covered with red rashes. Rubella is accompanied by fever.
Roseola affects children under two years of age. First, the lymph nodes become enlarged, the body temperature rises and the throat becomes inflamed. Then a small red rash appears on the face, which begins to quickly spread throughout the body. This is a highly contagious disease. It goes away on its own.
Scarlet fever and meningitis
First, body temperature increases. Then a characteristic rash in the form of pimples appears on the tongue. After some time, a small rash covers the entire body, arms and legs. After the rash disappears, the skin in the affected areas begins to peel off. This is a contagious disease, so you must avoid any contact with others.
Meningitis is very dangerous illness. It can even affect newborn babies . Its symptoms include:
The rash resembles an injection mark or a mosquito bite. They first appear on the buttocks and abdomen, and then on the lower extremities. If timely measures are not taken, the rash increases in size and resembles bruises. At the first symptoms of meningitis, you should immediately consult a doctor, as delay can be fatal.
What to do if your child has a rash?
If the baby's entire body is covered with a small rash, you need to pay attention to whether there are any signs infectious infection, for example, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, high fever. Then you should determine whether the rash covers the child’s entire body or is localized in certain areas. It is necessary to evaluate what type of rash it is: in the form of spots, purulent formations, blisters with liquid, etc.
Such an examination helps to understand whether it is necessary to urgently show the child to the doctor. By comparing all the symptoms and signs, the doctor can prescribe the necessary treatment. If an infection is suspected, it is best to call a doctor at home and isolate the sick baby in a separate room. Before the pediatrician arrives, it is not recommended to treat the rash with any means, so as not to complicate the diagnosis.
Thus, there are quite a few reasons for the appearance of a small red rash in a child. In this case, you should not panic, it's better to see a doctor. Only a specialist can determine how serious the situation is and, if necessary, prescribe correct treatment. Self-medication is prohibited.
Update: October 2018
Any mother, seeing suspicious rashes on her baby’s skin, begins to look for their cause. Some almost always urgently call a doctor, after feeding the child unnecessary medications. Other parents try not to pay attention to the rash, especially if the child feels well. But both of them are doing the wrong thing. You just need to know the main types of rashes to make the right decision.
What a rash might look like - basic elements
- – a limited area of skin of discolored color (red, white and others). It does not protrude above the skin and cannot be felt.
- - a tubercle up to 0.5 cm in diameter, without a cavity inside. The element protrudes above the skin and can be felt.
- - a formation with a large area, raised above the skin and having a flattened shape. Large plaques with a distinct skin pattern are called lichenification
- Vesicles and bubbles- formations with liquid inside. Vary in size (a vesicle larger than 0.5 cm is called a vesicle)
- – a limited cavity with pus inside
Diseases accompanied by rash
Rash in newborns
Erythema toxicum rash affects half of all full-term newborns. The main elements are white-yellow papules or pustules with a diameter of 1-2 mm, surrounded by a red rim. In some cases, only red spots appear, from several to almost complete defeat skin (except palms and soles). The maximum rash appears on the 2nd day of life, then the rash gradually disappears. The exact causes of erythema toxicum are unknown; the rash goes away on its own.
A condition that 20% of all babies go through by the age of three weeks. A rash in the form of inflamed papules and pustules appears on the face, less often on the scalp and neck. The cause of the rash is the activation of the sebaceous glands by maternal hormones. Most often, acne in newborns does not require treatment; careful hygiene and moisturizing with emollients are necessary. Unlike juvenile acne, newborn acne does not leave behind spots or scars and takes up to 6 months to resolve.
Frequent rashes in newborns, especially in warm time year (see). It is associated with difficult release of the contents of the sweat glands and increased skin moisture during wrapping. Typical places of occurrence are the head, face and diaper rash areas. Blisters, spots and pustules rarely become inflamed, do not cause discomfort and go away with good care.
A synonym for this disease is atopic eczema or . Every 10 children suffer from this disease, but not everyone develops the typical triad of symptoms. The triad includes allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and eczema itself. 
The first signs of the disease appear in the first year of life and more often the rash appears on the face, cheeks, and extensor surfaces of the arms and legs. The child is bothered by unbearable itching, which intensifies at night and with temperature and chemical effects on the skin. IN acute stage the rashes look like red papules with scratches and liquid discharge.
In the subacute period, sometimes it thickens. This is due to constant scratching of the affected areas.
Most children recover from this disease without consequences. 
Only with a hereditary predisposition can the disease become chronic with the addition of asthma and allergic rhinitis (see).
Allergic rash
If there is an individual intolerance to drugs and foods, the child may develop allergic rashes. They have different shape and size, the rash can be located all over the body, on the arms, legs, back, and stomach. Home distinctive feature an allergic rash is its intensification under the influence of an allergen and its disappearance after the latter is discontinued. Usually severe itching is the only unpleasant effect of such rashes. 
- Quincke's edema - in rare cases, a severe reaction of the body to an allergen may occur, most often occurs on medicines or products (see more details). In this case, the rash lasts for quite a long time, and swelling forms on the body, leading to the inability to breathe due to the blockage of the larynx. If there is a family predisposition to allergies, it is necessary to exclude intolerant foods and medications.
- Urticaria - can also occur due to foods, medications and under the influence of temperature factors (,), sometimes the cause of urticaria is never found (see more details).
Very often, marks from insect bites terrify parents and force them to look for infectious causes such rashes. If any skin rashes you need to analyze where and how long the child spent time. Perhaps a weekend in the village with your grandmother was accompanied by a trip to the forest and a massive attack of midges, so most often bite marks appear on open areas of the skin - in the form of a rash on the arms, legs, face, and neck.
Typical bite marks are caused by the following processes:
- reaction to toxins
- mechanical trauma to the skin
- infection in the wound when scratching
- sometimes – infectious diseases transmitted through bites
Symptoms of bites:
| Mosquitoes | Bedbugs |
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| Bees and wasps | Scabies mites |
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A rash in a child that requires immediate medical attention
- Accompanied by fever above 40 degrees
- Covers the entire body, causing unbearable itching
- Associated with vomiting, headache and confusion
- Looks like stellate hemorrhages
- Accompanied by swelling and difficulty breathing
What not to do if your child has rashes
- Squeeze out pustules
- Popping bubbles
- Allow rashes to be scratched
- Lubricate with brightly colored preparations (so as not to complicate the diagnosis)
Rash on the body of a child - important symptom many diseases. Some of them do not even require treatment and go away on their own, while some threaten the health and life of the little person. Therefore, if you have any suspicious symptoms, you should consult a doctor and not self-medicate.
Rash caused by infection
The most common cause of a rash on a child's body is viral or bacterial infection. In turn, among them there are 6 main diseases.
The disease is caused by parvovirus B19, which is common in all countries of the world. The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets; contact transmission is possible in close children's groups. Symptoms of erythema infectiosum: 
The rash forms on the extensor surfaces; the hands and feet are usually not affected. The fading of spots occurs gradually, over 1-3 weeks. The rash is usually an immune-related post-infectious complication, so children with patches of erythema are not contagious and do not need to be isolated.
Herpes virus type 6 causes typical childhood disease – sudden exanthema(roseola). The peak incidence occurs between 10 months and 2 years of age, and contacts with sick children are rarely identified. Transmission usually occurs from adults through airborne droplets. Symptoms:
Roseola is a very specific disease, but it often goes unrecognized by pediatricians. Since teeth are actively cutting at the age of 1 year, fever is attributed to this condition. It must be remembered that teething never causes a temperature above 38 degrees. With this heat there is always another reason!
Chicken pox
Chicken pox (chickenpox) is a primary infection with the varicella zoster virus, similar in structure to the virus herpes simplex. Most children become infected before the age of 15. Transmission of the disease occurs through the air or by contact (the virus is present in the discharge from the rash). Symptoms:
The chickenpox virus in most children who have recovered from the disease goes into a latent form, firmly strengthening in nerve cells. Subsequently, a second wave of the disease may occur in the form (Fig. 2.), when bubbles form along the nerve trunk, often on the lower back.
Complications of the disease occur rarely, mainly in weakened children with primary immunodeficiency and AIDS. With congenital chickenpox, there is a risk of disability and death of the newborn. In 2015, in Russia, the chickenpox vaccine should be included in national calendar vaccinations.
Meningococcal infection
Meningococcus is a bacterium that is normally found in the nasopharynx of 5-10% of people without causing serious problems. But under certain conditions, this microbe can cause life-threatening conditions, especially in children younger age. Meningococcus is transmitted by air, settling in the nasal cavity. With viral infections or a decrease in quality of life, carriage can develop into active disease. When detected in blood or cerebrospinal fluid meningococci requires urgent treatment with antibiotics in an intensive care unit. 
Once in the blood, the bacterium can cause:
- sepsis (blood poisoning)
- meningitis
- combination of these conditions
Sepsis - the disease begins with an increase in temperature to 41 degrees, uncontrollable vomiting. During the first 24 hours, a characteristic petechial rash (small bruises that grow and take on a star-shaped shape) appears against the background of pale gray skin.
The rashes are located on the limbs, torso, can rise above the skin, often ulcerate and form scars. At the same time, purulent foci may appear in organs (heart, pericardium, pleural cavity). In young children, sepsis often occurs at lightning speed with the development of shock and death.
Meningitis is a more common manifestation of infection. Patients complain of photophobia, headache, disturbances of consciousness, tension occipital muscles. With isolated meningitis, there is no characteristic rash.
Measles
is a previously common viral disease that now occurs in short outbreaks in certain regions. IN last years The virus has reared its head again due to massive anti-vaccination agitation. Most people are highly susceptible to the measles virus, so if one child in a group of children gets sick, then 90% of the remaining unvaccinated children are at risk of becoming infected.
The disease occurs in three stages:
- Incubation (hidden), which lasts 10-12 days. By day 9, a sick child is contagious.
- Prodromal (general malaise), lasting 3-5 days. It begins acutely and progresses with fever, dry cough, runny nose, and red eyes. On the 2nd day, Filatov-Koplik spots appear on the mucous membrane of the cheeks: whitish-gray dots with a red rim, disappearing within 12-18 hours.
- Rash period. In parallel with an increase in temperature to 40 degrees, maculopapular spots appear behind the ears and along the hairline. Within a day, the rash covers the face and goes down to the upper chest. After 2-3 days it reaches the feet, and the face turns pale. This staged pattern of rashes (day 1 – face, day 2 – torso, day 3 – limbs) is characteristic of measles. All this is accompanied by mild itching, sometimes small bruises appear at the site of the rash. After the spots disappear, peeling and a brownish mark may remain, which disappears within 7-10 days.
Complications (usually occur in unvaccinated children):
- otitis media
- pneumonia
- encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
The diagnosis is usually made by characteristic symptoms, and sometimes blood is taken to determine immunoglobulins. Treatment directly against the virus has not been developed, so you just need to alleviate the child’s condition with antipyretics. There is evidence that taking vitamin A by children with measles significantly mitigates the course of the infection. Vaccination of children can reduce the incidence of the disease and the risk of severe complications. It must be remembered that 6-10 days after the vaccine is administered, milder signs of the disease may appear ( low temperature, a small rash on the child’s body), which disappear quickly and do not pose a health hazard.
Rubella
An acute viral infection that affects mainly 5-15 years of age. Rubella symptoms:
- The latent period is from 2 to 3 weeks. At this stage there are no symptoms, but the child may already be contagious.
- Prodromal period. There is a slight malaise, a slight rise in temperature, very often this stage goes unnoticed. The occipital and posterior cervical lymph nodes are noticeably enlarged.
- Rash period. A pale pink rash appears on the face, quickly spreads downwards and disappears just as quickly, usually after 3 days. May be accompanied by mild itching. Peeling usually does not remain.
Rubella often occurs without a rash at all, so it is difficult to distinguish it from other infections. The virus is dangerous mainly for expectant mothers. When infected before the 11th week of pregnancy, most children have birth defects development. After the 16th week, the risk of anomalies is low, but there is a possibility of congenital rubella with damage to the brain, skin, and eyes. Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, all women need to find out the level of antibodies to rubella in order to vaccinate if they are absent.
Scarlet fever
- a disease caused by group A streptococci. This means that the source of infection is not only patients or carriers of scarlet fever, but also people with any pathology caused by these bacteria (sore throat, for example). Scarlet fever is transmitted by airborne droplets. Symptoms:
- The latent period is 2-7 days.
- The prodromal period begins with a rise in temperature and malaise.
- On the 1st or 2nd day of illness, a rash appears that does not affect the nasolabial triangle. The appearance of a child with scarlet fever is characteristic: shiny eyes, glowing cheeks, pale nasolabial triangle. On the body, the rashes are more intense in the folds. After 3-7 days, all rashes disappear, leaving behind peeling. Another feature of the disease is the “crimson” tongue - bright, with pronounced papillae.
Infectious mononucleosis
The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes, belongs to a large group of herpes viruses. The disease most often affects children and young people, often occurs without a rash or other symptoms. characteristic symptoms. The degree of contagiousness of patients with mononucleosis is low, so outbreaks do not occur in children's groups. Symptoms:
- The main symptom of the disease is an increase lymph nodes, especially posterior cervical ones, the liver and spleen simultaneously enlarge.
- From the 3rd day of illness, tonsillitis with a white coating on the tonsils and a rise in temperature may appear.
- On days 5-6, a rash appears infrequently, varying in shape and size, disappearing without a trace. If a patient with mononucleosis is prescribed ampicillin, the likelihood of a rash increases.
- A characteristic sign will appear in a blood test: atypical mononuclear cells; in addition, antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus can be detected.
Differential diagnosis of rash of infectious origin
| Hidden period | Symptoms | Rash | Period of infectiousness and vaccination | |||
| View | Time and order of appearance | Footprints | ||||
| Measles | 10-12days |
|
Large maculopapular, bright, may merge | After 3-5 days of illness - behind the ears, along the hair. Then it goes down to the feet (in three days) | Bruising and peeling | 4 days before the first rash and up to 5 days after it disappears. Vaccination - at 1 year, 6 years |
| Rubella | 2-3 weeks |
|
Finely spotted, pale pink | On the first day of illness on the face, after 24-48 hours - throughout the body, disappears after 3 days. | Disappears without a trace | Contagiousness during the period of rash, a few days before and after it. Vaccination -12 months, 6 years |
| Scarlet fever | 2-7 days |
|
Fine-dot (1-2 mm), bright | Simultaneous rash, intense rash in the folds of the body. Pale nasolabial triangle. | Leaves peeling | contagiousness 10 days from the onset of symptoms, with streptococcus carriage - constant contagiousness |
| Infectious mononucleosis | Unknown |
|
Diverse in shape and size, does not always occur | On the 5-6th day of illness, sometimes later. More intense on the face, but also present on the body | Disappears without a trace | The virus is low infectivity and is transmitted more often through sharing utensils and kissing |
| Erythema infectiosum | 4-28 days |
|
Red spots | Red spots from the face spread to the entire body, especially to the extensor surfaces. Before disappearing, they take on the appearance of a ring with a white center. | Disappear for a long time, can reappear within 3 weeks under unfavorable conditions | Children are usually not contagious once the rash appears. |
| 5-15 days |
|
Fine spotted | The spots appear after the temperature on the body normalizes. | Disappears within a few hours or days without a trace | Infection most often occurs from adults who are carriers of herpes virus type 6 | |
| Chicken pox | 10-21 days |
|
Spots, papules, blisters and crusts. | The beginning is on the scalp, face, torso. Then it spreads to the whole body. Different elements of the rash are present simultaneously. | there are no traces, but if scratching causes an infection - scars may remain |
48 hours before the rash appears and before crusts form on all elements (up to 2 weeks). It is planned to be included in the vaccination calendar in 2015. |
| Meningococcal sepsis | - |
|
From small bruises to extensive hemorrhages | More often - lower limbs and torso. | Extensive hemorrhages can develop into ulcers and scars. | Throughout the illness |
Surely every parent is familiar with a rash on the child’s body. This may be a sign of a disease or other body condition, some of which can be very dangerous. Therefore, if you have any rashes on your child’s skin, you should contact your pediatrician.
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Causes
The main causes of rashes in a child include the following types of conditions and diseases:
If the cause of the rash is infectious disease, the child’s temperature rises, a runny nose and cough appear, the throat may hurt, and chills appear. The child loses his appetite, he may have diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and a stomach ache. In such cases, the rash appears immediately or within 2-3 days.
Diseases accompanied by a rash include measles, rubella, chicken pox, scarlet fever, enterovirus infection and other types of similar diseases. The most dangerous among them is meningococcal infection, which has a dangerous complication such as meningitis.
Diseases accompanied by rash
Meningococcal infection
The child's rash resembles hemorrhages. The child has a severe fever. The disease is very dangerous as it develops instantly. With quickly started treatment favorable outcome shines for 80-90% of patients.
For example, scabies, which is caused by the scabies mite. The main places of damage: between the fingers, wrists, abdomen, groin and genitals, and other parts of the body. The skin is very itchy. A rash is pinpoint pimples that are located a few millimeters from each other. The disease is contagious and requires mandatory treatment.
Vascular diseases
Children's rash due to diseases of the blood and blood vessels is hemorrhagic in nature and occurs due to hemorrhage into the skin. Occurs due to injury. These may be multi-colored bruises or small rashes that appear all over the body.
Measles
Rashes on children's skin appear a few days after measles infection, that is, when the temperature rises, the throat turns red, a runny nose and cough appear. The rash travels down the child's body, starting on the face, then on the torso and arms, ending on the legs. And all this in just 3 days. It usually appears in spots that rise above the surface of the skin. The spots are large and merge with each other.
Varicella or chickenpox
Chickenpox rashes often appear on the face, hair and torso. At first, the red spots are slightly raised above the skin, then gradually become blisters. The latter contain a clear liquid. The size of the redness is 4-5 mm. Gradually they dry out and turn into crusts. The skin itches. Often the appearance of new formations is accompanied by a rise in temperature.
Rubella
The main signs: fever, enlarged lymph nodes on the back of the head, intoxication and the appearance of small spots on the skin. The rash spreads from head to toe within 24 hours. The rash on the body lasts about three days, after which it disappears without a trace. The main places for its placement: places where the arms and legs are flexed, buttocks. This viral infection negatively affects the fetus during pregnancy.
Scarlet fever
The disease resembles a sore throat. The rash in a child appears on the 2nd day and consists of small elements that are distributed throughout the body. Most small pimples occur in the groin, inside the elbows, lower abdomen and under the arms. The skin is red and hot, slightly swollen. After 3 days, the symptoms of the disease go away, leaving behind severe peeling of the skin.
In addition to the above diseases, a rash can occur due to herpetic infection. Blisters appear on the skin and the skin itches. Infectious monoculosis with rash symptoms occurs as a result of taking antibiotics.
Enterovirus
Enterovirus infection, in addition to fever and general malaise, is characterized by rashes on the face and body. The child may experience nausea and diarrhea.
Redness appears on about the third day and disappears after 1-3 days. Enterovirus infection most often occurs between the ages of 3 and 10 years.
If it's an allergy
An allergic reaction in the form of a rash can be caused by anything: food, household chemicals, airborne allergens.
The cause of the rash is the ingestion of certain foods or contact with any allergen. Allergens can include chocolate, dairy products, eggs, medications, animal hair, household chemicals, fabric and much more. Touching nettles or jellyfish may also cause a rash. Mosquito bite can also cause allergic reaction The child has.
An allergic rash appears immediately along with a runny nose, lacrimation and itching. The rashes all over the body are raised and clearly visible. They usually appear on the face, behind the ears, and buttocks.
Poor hygiene
Since the skin of very young children is delicate, even minor violations in its care can cause rashes. This is prickly heat, diaper rash and diaper dermatitis. Sometimes redness appears on the face and behind the ears. You should not wrap your child up too much and try not to leave your baby in wet diapers. Small children should be washed and bathed more often, and given air baths.
Insect bites
Very often, bites from mosquitoes or other insects are confused with a rash of infectious diseases. A bump appears at the site of the bite, itching and itching. The time of year, localization and asymptomatic conditions will help identify the cause of such redness.
What to do first
Before the main course of treatment is carried out, you should visit a doctor.
If a child detects any skin rash, mothers and fathers should do the following:
- Call a doctor at home. In case of rash infectious nature(enterovirus infection, chickenpox, rubella), this will help avoid infecting others. You should try to isolate the child, in particular from expectant mothers. The doctor must make sure that it is not rubella or another dangerous disease.
- If you suspect a meningococcal infection, you really need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.
- Before the doctor arrives, you should not touch the rash or lubricate it with any product. This will not improve the baby’s condition, since the main and common reason rashes are internal problems of the body. And it will not be easy for a doctor to determine the diagnosis.
Redness of the skin can also be caused by contact with clothing. This is often due to the material, as well as residue from detergent or fabric softener. The child should choose hypoallergenic washing powders, and it is better to use baby soap.
How can a doctor help?
Based on clinical data and examination of the child, a specialist can determine accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. When viral infection no special treatment is required. For bacterial rashes, the main treatment is antibiotics. If it is an allergy, you should not contact the source of its occurrence.
Doctors prescribe antihistamines, glucocorticosteroids and other drugs. Ointments, tablets and injections may be prescribed. The help of a hematologist will be needed if the cause of the rash is blood or vascular diseases. A dermatologist treats scabies by prescribing a number of anti-epidemic measures.
Prevention
To avoid infectious diseases in children, vaccinations should be done. There is also a vaccine against meningococcal infection, against which a child can also be vaccinated. The pediatrician will tell you whether this is necessary and when it is best to do it.
Very often allergies occur in childhood and this is due to the not yet fully formed immune system. The body can react too actively to any irritant. Therefore, you should feed your child hypoallergenic foods and introduce new foods gradually and one at a time. With age, allergies in children go away and the irritant is not perceived by the child’s body as strongly as before.
