Pediatric dermatology conditions, known in common parlance as children’s skin diseases, are more common than many parents imagine. Statistics estimate that over 90% of school-age children are living with at least one skin disease. Collectively, the prevalence of pediatric dermatology conditions is significantly higher than cough and the flu.
Most skin diseases in children resolve independently, although some may recur throughout adulthood. The conditions also vary in severity, from mild and easily manageable illnesses to severe and life-threatening ones.
In this article, we’ll review the five most common pediatric dermatology issues, including their primary triggers and tell-tale symptoms. The list shall encompass bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases.
1. Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is one of the most common dermatitis affecting children.
Eczema is usually diagnosed in kids with skin barrier dysfunction, predisposing their skin to dryness. The condition may also result from specific food allergies and environmental factors. While babies and younger children are the most affected, a significant percentage of adolescents and adults also suffer from atopic dermatitis.
Eczema begins with a mild itch that gets more intense as the disease progresses. Without prompt intervention, the itchy skin patches become red and irritating. They eventually turn scaly and dry out.
Atopic dermatitis is incurable, and treatments typically target the core symptoms. To help your child cope with the condition, scheduling a visit to Park Plaza Dermatology immediately is imperative. The pediatricians will quickly examine your little one and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Interventions may include over the counter (OTC) antihistamine drugs and body creams.
As a preventive measure, do not expose your child to known food and environmental triggers. Taking warm baths regularly has also been shown to minimize the risks of eczema.
2. Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a form of dermatitis that results from physical contact with a highly allergic or irritating substance.
Poisonous plants, such as the poison ivy, are one of the most common triggers of contact dermatitis. The condition may also be due to certain medications and common household goods, including detergents, cleaners, paints, perfumes, cosmetics, and even jewelry.
Children with contact dermatitis develop an itchy skin rash. Although the rash isn’t contagious, it can often cause unbearable pain.
Like atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis is incurable. You can only manage the condition by implementing a treatment plan recommended by your pediatrician.
Applying an anti-itch topical might help soothe the itchiness and relieve the discomfort. It’s best if the product is formulated with moisturizing ingredients, which rehydrate the skin and reduce the severity of the itch.
In certain instances, your pediatric dermatologist may recommend oral steroids.
3. Chickenpox
Chickenpox is arguably the most common viral skin condition in children. The disease is caused by a member of the herpesvirus family known as the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for shingles in adults.
Earlier clinical manifestations of chickenpox include a rash on the face, chest, and back. As the disease progresses, the rash may eventually cover the entire body.
Chickenpox usually resolves on its own within a week or two. However, it’s highly contagious and can cause nasty symptoms while it lasts.
Therefore, the affected children require urgent treatment and careful monitoring to minimize the disease’s impact.
Antihistamines and acetaminophen are the most commonly recommended treatments. The trick is to apply these medications before the blisters appear to prevent the disease from spreading.
4. Scarlet Fever
While most pediatric dermatology conditions affect babies, scarlet fever (also called scarlatina) has a preference for 5-to-15-year-olds. But that doesn’t make it any less pleasant.
Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus bacteria, the same pathogen associated with strep throat. True to its name, the disease typically manifests as a fever accompanied by scarlet (red) rashes on the neck and upper chest.
Scarlatina rashes are usually bumpy and remarkably rough. The rashes may spread to the rest of your child’s body if the disease goes untreated for long.
Depending on the disease’s progression, you might also observe paleness around your child’s mouth and redness of their face.
As scarlet fever is a bacterial illness, the most effective treatment is administering prescription antibiotics.
5. Ringworm
Contrary to popular misconception, ringworms aren’t caused by actual worms but by fungi known as dermatophytes.
Dermatophytes mostly thrive on the skin, although they’re also common in hair and nail beds. Various forms of fungi affect different body areas, which explains why ringworms may differ slightly in shape and severity. However, most ringworms produce round or oval patches on the skin.
Compared to rashes caused by other pediatric dermatology conditions, ringworm patches are typically smoother and paler around their centers but scalier and redder at the borders. The patches may also begin with an irregular shape but then take on their iconic ring shapes as they develop.
Ringworms can cause unbearable pain and irritation in the affected areas, especially as the rashes become inflamed. The condition isn’t entirely pediatric either, as a whopping 25% of the global population experiences it at some point in their lives.
Treatments typically include oral or topical antifungal medications.
Wrap Up
No matter how mild or severe a pediatric dermatology condition appears, urgent intervention is paramount. Get your child examined by a licensed pediatrician when the first symptoms emerge.
Even for skin diseases that typically resolve independently, seeking prompt medical attention can help your child cope with the illness while it lasts.
