Early signs of allergic diathesis in children. How does diathesis differ from allergies in a child? How does the reaction occur?

Exudative-catarrhal diathesis (ECD) is understood as a constitutional feature of a child, in which, against the background of congenital predisposition and under the influence of external factors, a nonspecific exudative-catarrhal process easily occurs on the part of the skin and mucous membranes. The peculiarity of reactivity in ECD lies in the allergic predisposition and tendency to recurrent catarrhal processes in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eyes and other systems. In this case, there is also a violation of neuroendocrine adaptation.

The most pronounced manifestations of ECD are in the first 3 years of life, when 25-40% of children show certain signs of this condition. In the 1st year of life, it occurs with a frequency of 46.6-56%, while in the 1st half of life - in 75.5-83.2%, in the 2nd - in 13.9%.

The risk group for ECD (as well as for atopic) are children:

1. from families with a hereditary predisposition to allergic diseases, pathologies gastrointestinal tract, chronic inflammatory processes;

2. whose mothers during pregnancy or lactation:

consumed allergenic foods;

received enhanced vitamin therapy, especially B1;

received treatment with antibiotics, sulfonamides,

worked in hazardous working conditions and/or lived in an environmentally unfavorable environment.

3. who had errors in organizing care and feeding:

early artificial feeding,

violation of sanitary and hygienic conditions,

unbalanced diet.

U In 85% of young children, ECD occurs in a transient form. This is due

morphofunctional immaturity, including enzyme systems of the gastrointestinal tract;

dysgammoglubulinemia (deficiency of secretory Ig A, which in 5-10 times less than in adults: the child receives them only with mother’s milk);

hyperreaginemia (high level of Ig E, which is directly dependent on the degree of toxicosis in pregnant women).

With ECD, pseudo-allergic reactions are observed. With this mechanism, there is no hidden period of sensitization. A 2-phase process occurs:

Pathochemical;

Pathophysiological. There are 2 variants of the non-immune form of ECD:

1. Liberatory (associated with the intake of biologically active amines (mainly histamine) with food and their release from mast cells with the help of liberators (food, medicinal, meteorological, etc.);

2. Histaminase (due to low activity of histaminase, carboxypeptidase, monoamine oxidase, acetylcholinesterase, which leads to insufficient inactivation of biogenic amines in the blood and intestinal wall).

The fundamental feature of ECD is the connection of its manifestation with the child’s consumption of food or mother during breastfeeding of a relatively large number of products containing a lot of biologically active substances or their liberators. In ECD, the release of biologically active substances can also occur as a result of exposure to weakened membranes of mast cells and basophils.

specific factors(overheating, UV radiation, ARVI). Liberators of biogenic amines:

Food products: chicken, fish, sausages, egg whites, cheese, chocolate, fruits and vegetables colored red and orange (strawberries, strawberries, citrus fruits, etc.), sauerkraut;

Medicines: ascorbic acid, vitamin B1, aspirin, calcium chloride, polymyxin,γ-globulin,

Food additives: preservatives, tartrazine dye - an indifferent orange dye used in the food industry (drinks, creams, candies, etc.) and in the pharmaceutical industry (allochol, tavegil, no-shpa, etc.)

With ECD the following is observed:

Hereditarily caused excessive desquamation of the epithelium and endothelium of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and urinary tracts,

Increased gastrointestinal permeability, low activity of digestive enzymes, malabsorption, development of dysbacteriosis,

Insufficient stability of mast cell membranes, decreased activity of enzymes that break down biologically active substances and bind proteins;

Impaired water-electrolyte metabolism, acidosis due to the accumulation of organic acids, activation of FRO, deficiency of essential microelements (iron, manganese, zinc, cobolt), impaired metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins B, C and E with a tendency to hypoproteinemia, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia due to impaired functional state of the liver;

Depolyremization and increased permeability of connective tissue structures, disruption of collagen metabolism, disruption of the buffer system with the transition of an acid reaction to an alkaline reaction in the surface layers of the skin;

Reduced immunobiological protection;

Triggers of clinical manifestations of ECD can be:

Vaccination (manifestation or intensification of skin manifestations is more often observed on 2-3 weeks after vaccination);

Antibacterial therapy, especially long-term and repeated;

ARVI;

Acute intestinal infections, etc.

Children with ECD are characterized by:

Uneven weight gain, tendency towards excess body weight,

pastiness,

Anemia and rickets are often detected.

By the age of 3-4 years, the manifestations of ECD, as a rule, gradually disappear. Clinical manifestations of ECD may also depend on the type of product:

a reaction to strawberries, raspberries, and melons may result in urticaria;

on fish - asthma,

on honey - Quincke's edema;

on tomatoes, peppers – colic, urticaria;

for walnuts - stomatitis.

The clinical manifestations of ECD are wave-like, that is, phases of remission and relapse are observed.

There are 2 types of ECD - pastous and erytic. With the pasty type, children are prone to excess weight due to increased tissue hydrophilicity. Outwardly, they are plump, loose, and inactive. Their skin and mucous membranes are pale, elements of e.d. juicy, often weeping eczema on the skin.

With the eretic type, children are thin, restless, and the rashes on their skin are dry and itchy. Mucosal lesions are observed - geographic tongue, frequent conjunctivitis, blepharitis, CVDP, dyspepsia, vulvovaginitis, pyelitis, pyelocystitis.

Against the background of altered reactivity, a child with ECD may develop the following diseases (risk groups):

infectious-inflammatory diseases (ARVI, purulent-septic infection, pneumonia) with a protracted course and severe catarrhal syndrome, infectious toxicosis and obstructive syndrome in ARVI, urinary tract infection;

chronic nutritional disorders, iron deficiency anemia, dysbacteriosis;

allergic diseases (allergodermatoses, respiratory allergies, drug allergies);

formation of chronic foci of infection (tonsillitis, sinusitis, cholecystitis).

Differential diagnosis is made with atopic diathesis. If skin or other allergic lesions occur under the influence of even trace amounts of the allergen and progress despite treatment, and the child’s parents suffer from allergic diseases, allergic diathesis is diagnosed.

Prevention

Prevention of ECD should begin in the antenatal period, which consists of a hypoallergenic diet for the pregnant woman, as well as the elimination of harmful production factors, as well as harmful environmental factors, including in the home. It is necessary to exclude the use of the most common medicinal allergens - penicillin, acetylsalicylic acid, vitamin B1.

Children with ECD should be under medical supervision of a pediatrician. If necessary, a consultation with an allergist, dermatologist, etc. is carried out.

The organization of rational nutrition of the child and mother during breastfeeding is of great importance. It is necessary to exclude products containing allergens and biologically active substances (as well as from Liberetora), and sharply limit easily digestible carbohydrates. When artificially feeding children 1 year of age, it is recommended to reduce the amount of cow's milk consumed as much as possible; it is preferable to use acidic formulas. The child should receive age-appropriate amounts of nutrients. Fish, as a rule, is not introduced into the diet of a child with ECD at the first stage of life. Meat is introduced starting from 6-7 months.

The issue of preventive vaccinations is decided individually. They are carried out only against the background of drug preparation (hyposensitizing, antihistamines, vitamins 2-3 days before and 7-10 days after vaccination) no earlier than 1 month after exacerbation of ECD.

Treatment.

Consistent use of vitamins B6, A, E, B5 in age-specific doses;

Hyposensitizing, antihistamines;

For skin rashes - baths with decoctions of string, bay leaves, oak bark;

Indometacium ointment

Allergic (atopic) diathesis

Atopic diathesis (Greek Topos - place, a - negation) is a constitutional anomaly, which is characterized by a predisposition to allergic diseases. It is based on inherited or acquired increased reactivity to foreign proteins. The VNS and mental factors play a huge role in the pathogenesis of allergic diathesis. Idiosyncrasy is especially often observed in neurotic individuals with increased irritability of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Atopic diathesis requires special identification due to the characteristics of pathogenesis, manifestation and treatment. It accounts for 10-15% of allergic dermatoses. It is believed that the basis of allergic diathesis is an inherited or acquired tendency to increased reactivity towards foreign proteins. The risk of allergies inherited by the recessive type is 40%, and by the dominant (with weak gene penetrance) or multifactorial type - 32.7%.

Atopic diathesis is characterized by hereditary burden of classical allergic diseases:

Atopic BA,

Hay fever,

Drug allergy,

serum sickness,

True eczema, etc.

Allergic diathesis has polygenic inheritance. In different families, an increased tendency to allergic reactions is due to various factors: high synthesis of immunoglobulin E, immune deficiency, similarity of hycoprodeids of the epithelium of the respiratory tract and intestines with bacterial glycoproteins. fungi, etc. With a risk of 30 to 75%, the following can be inherited:

The ability to synthesize a large number of reagins - Ig E, IG M and Ig G (their synthesis increases with age).

Low activity of inhibitors of biologically active substances (histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, ACh), etc.

High sensitivity of cells to biologically active substances.

Increased activity of enzymes responsible for the level of mediators of allergic reactions.

Increased permeability of cell membranes to biologically active substances.

High content of mast cells in the walls of the bronchi and intestines.

The proximity of nerve receptors to the surface of the skin. This causes almost constant constriction of blood vessels, persistent white dermographism and disturbances in skin trophism.

Skin intolerance to the dermis of animals (wool fabrics, dander and animal hair, fluff, feathers, etc.).

It has been scientifically proven that passive and active sensitization of the fetus occurs, especially in the last 2 months of pregnancy. Trophoallergens penetrate the fetal body and stimulate the formation of hemagglutinin Abs as part of Ig M. But the fetus has an unspecific

a digital protective mechanism and removes the Ag-At complex into the amniotic fluid. If these allergens enter the baby’s body through breast milk, they cause early manifestation of allergic diathesis.

The formation of allergic diathesis is possible in children and without hereditary predisposition and, and under the influence of unfavorable environmental factors.

In early childhood, the most common type of sensitization is food sensitization. Most allergenic products:

Cow's milk (CM);

Fish;

Cereals (oats, wheat, rye);

Eggs.

Allergic manifestations develop under the influence of environmental factors that determine the possibility of massive entry of undigested allergen through natural barriers.

Environmental factors contributing to the improvement of allergic dia-

thesis:

intensive vaccination.

excessive pharmacotherapy, primarily antibiotic therapy.

intensive use of various detergents in everyday life and at work.

use of pesticides.

IN Depending on the characteristics of allergic reactions, the following are distinguished: vari-

Ants of allergic diathesis:

Atopic.

Autoimmune.

Infectious-allergic.

Clinical manifestations of allergic diathesis depend on age and duration of contact with allergens.

Clinical manifestations of allergic diathesis:

Skin manifestations on In the 1st year of life it is difficult to distinguish from ECD. However, the dry form of eczema is more common, with a tendency to localize in the elbow and popliteal folds, and wrist joints.

Characterized by severe itching

Children are capricious, have increased excitability, and sleep is disturbed.

Appetite is reduced.

Unstable stool (constipation alternating with diarrhea).

Impairment of the functional state of the liver due to allergic alteration of liver cells, which leads to disruption of hormone metabolism;

Violation of the biosynthesis of hormones in the adrenal cortex;

Easy to develop purulent-septic infection, which often occurs with bronchospasm.

There is a high probability of developing eczema, neurodermatitis, and atopic asthma in preschool and primary school age.

The following are distinguished: clinical forms of allergic diathesis (O.A. Sinyavskaya et al., 1980):

1. Mainly cutaneous:

allergic constitutional dermatitis: dry and pale skin, easy-to-occur prickly heat and persistent persistent diaper rash with good care, erythema, milky scab (redness of the skin of the cheeks and subcutaneous tissue with subsequent peeling), gneiss (yellowish crusts on the head in the area of ​​the large fontanelle, brow ridges and behind the ears);

true childhood eczema (limited and widespread);

mixed forms of eczema

strophulus;

neurodermatitis in childhood.

2. Combined:

Dermorespiratory syndrome (one of the forms of skin manifestations in combination with symptoms of respiratory allergosis);

Dermointestinal syndrome - one of the skin forms is combined with unstable stool or diarrhea (greens and mucus in the stool; eosinophils in the mucus), flatulence;

Dermomucosal syndrome (along with skin manifestations, the mucous membranes are affected, repeated otitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, “geographic tongue”, stomatitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, vulvovaginitis, urinary syndrome in the form of proteinuria and microhematuria, diarrhea are noted).

Nature of skin manifestations depends on a number of factors:

Localization of the complex Ag-At (when localized in the epithelium and capillary bed - most often eczema, in the subcutaneous tissue - urticaria);

Type of allergen (a reaction to milk can manifest itself as eczema, spastic bronchitis, enteritis; to strawberries, raspberries, melon, urticaria develops; to honey - Quincke's edema; to tomatoes, peppers - colic, urticaria, to fish - as-

tma; on walnuts – stomatitis); Anaphylactic shock may occur when drinking cow's milk.

Age characteristics allergic diathesis:

The first year of life - skin manifestations, as with ECD;

Preschool age – allergic respiratory manifestations, immune complex pathology;

School age – eczema, atopic dermatitis, autoimmune and immune complex diseases.

Conditions that contribute to the transition of diathesis into an allergic disease (provocative

Prolonged contact with various allergens,

Purulent-septic infection.

Chronic infections in the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract,

Mechanical damage to the skin,

Chemical and thermal factors,

Tense state of the central nervous system, including sharp sounds,

Poor nutrition

Hypovitaminosis.

The diagnosis of allergic diathesis is assumed on the basis of genealogical history. It is taken into account that diathesis develops in 30% of children if the father has allergic diseases, in 50% of children if the mother is sick, and in 75% of children if both parents have allergies. The diagnosis is confirmed by the appearance of allergic lesions based on immune mechanisms (as opposed to ECD).

Prevention of allergic diathesis.

Antenatal prevention of allergic diathesis is carried out according to the same principles as the prevention of ECD.

The principles of outpatient monitoring of children with ECD are the same as with ECD. Anamnesis, keeping a “food diary” and special allergological research methods help to establish causally significant allergens.

Allergic diathesis in children occurs due to the consumption of certain types of foods that provoke allergic reactions. The disease has an extensive list of symptoms and can contribute to the development of other pathologies. Following certain recommendations and knowing the characteristics of the disease will help prevent its further development.

How does allergic diathesis manifest in children?

Allergic diathesis is a specific reaction of the body to any food product. The disease often occurs in infancy. Subsequently, it progresses and develops into other forms and is accompanied by the development of dysbacteriosis, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and neurodermatitis.

Allergic diathesis in children is often confused with atopic dermatitis

In pediatric practice, the disease is considered common and occurs in a third of all children. The child’s immune system has increased sensitivity to external factors, or provocateurs, which lead to various skin manifestations.

The pathology is diagnosed in children of the first year of life at the age of three to six months and in most cases goes away on its own when the child reaches the age of one or two years. The disease can be triggered by allergens found in the mother's breast milk or foods introduced as complementary foods.

Causes of diathesis

Allergic diathesis can develop against the background of a genetic predisposition or due to the special reaction of the child’s immune system to external stimuli.

Risk factors:

• poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy;
• the presence of toxicosis in a pregnant woman;
• complications during pregnancy: hypoxia, central nervous system disorders;
• artificial feeding;
• various infections;
• poor environmental conditions;
• drug abuse.

Sources of the food form of the disease are dairy products, sweets, as well as foods that have not undergone heat treatment: fish, nuts. Often, pathology can be triggered by pet hair or pollen from flowering trees and plants.

Signs of allergic diathesis in children

Manifestations of diathesis in children are expressed in pallor and looseness of the skin. There is a rapid increase in body weight, after which a sharp decrease in weight is noted. There is hyperdevelopment of the subcutaneous tissue, loss of elasticity and turgor.

Diaper rash and redness form in the perineal area, on the buttocks, on the elbows and knees. The skin of the face takes on a reddish tint, flakes and is accompanied by itching. A crust forms on the scalp - seborrheic dermatitis.

The child constantly scratches the allergy areas, which leads to the formation of erosion. The situation can be complicated by infection of damaged skin areas, which can lead to the development of eczema. The condition is accompanied by severe itching and general intoxication of the body. Sleep is disturbed, the child becomes irritable and restless.

Symptoms of the disease in children after one year:

• dyspeptic disorders: flatulence, colic;
• sleep disturbance, anxiety;
• ENT diseases: pharyngitis, laryngitis;
• development of neurodermatitis;
• rapid weight gain;
• respiratory tract disorders;
• stomatitis;
• inflammatory reactions in the eye area;
• dry eczema.

Against the background of allergic diathesis, various forms of blepharitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, and pharyngitis can form. The pathology provokes the development of disorders in the urinary canal, and intestinal disorders are observed. In some cases, the disease leads to bronchial asthma. There is an enlargement of the liver, lymph nodes and spleen.

At the first signs of the disease, you should seek medical help from your doctor.

Diagnosis of allergic diathesis

It is possible to diagnose a child’s condition and identify pathology through special laboratory tests. Blood tests can determine the level of red blood cells and eosinophils. An increased concentration of substances indicates the development of allergic and inflammatory reactions in the body.

Biochemical analysis and blood sugar testing help determine the degree of disturbances in metabolic processes.

The disease can also be detected by external signs. Upon examination, the degree of damage to the skin, the presence of paratrophy and other signs characteristic of allergic diathesis are determined.

Additionally, diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract and ultrasound of the respiratory tract may be prescribed. You will also need an examination by an ENT specialist and other specialized specialists.

Treatment of allergic diathesis

Timely prescribed and administered therapy will help prevent further progression of the disease and avoid additional complications. The disease is dealt with in pediatrics.

During treatment for diathesis, you need to remove foods that provoke allergies from your diet.

Proper nutrition is a defining feature that promotes recovery. There is no special and universal diet for the treatment of allergic diathesis. With the help of examinations and monitoring of the child, it is necessary to identify a number of foods that provoke the disease and completely remove them from the diet.

When breastfeeding, it is necessary to adjust the mother's diet. All foods that are potential disease provocateurs are removed from the diet: milk, chocolate, citrus fruits, sweets, nuts. It is also recommended to avoid hard cheeses and canned foods.

The individual characteristics of the child’s body are also taken into account. An immune response can be caused by various cereals and mixtures, while there is a complete lack of reaction to citrus fruits.

Drug treatment is also prescribed, the regimen of which should be developed only by a specialist based on the data obtained. To eliminate itching and flaking, non-steroidal ointments can be prescribed. Various vitamin complexes designed specifically for children are used to strengthen and strengthen the immune system. Healing baths with the addition of string or oak bark will help eliminate the signs and symptoms of the disease, as well as relieve inflammation on the skin.

Upon reaching two to three years of age, if all necessary recommendations are followed, the disease goes away. In the immune form of the pathology, if treatment is not timely, the disease develops into other pathological processes.

Prevention of childhood diathesis

Preventive measures must be observed even during pregnancy. It is recommended not to abuse medications and avoid factors that provoke infectious or inflammatory processes. The diet of a pregnant and lactating woman should be varied.

If a child has developed diathesis in the past, it is recommended to undergo laboratory tests to determine the food allergen.

Allergic diathesis in children develops against the background of a specific immune reaction to certain foods. Timely treatment will contribute to a speedy recovery and restoration of immunity. Therapy is considered effective in determining the allergen and the form of the disease.

In case of immune disorders, constant monitoring by a specialist is necessary. It is imperative to follow all clinical recommendations. Proper nutrition of the mother during pregnancy will help reduce the risks of developing pathology.

What is allergic diathesis in children

Allergic diathesis is an increased sensitivity of the body to the food consumed, which occurs as a consequence of the innate characteristics of the immune system, neurovegetative system, and metabolism.

Diathesis is associated with the characteristics of a child’s body; diathesis in adults is extremely rare. In children, food is digested differently than in adults, the body responds differently to infectious agents, etc. That is, those factors that do not cause a reaction in an adult body can affect the child’s body.

The hyperactive immune response given by the child's body to environmental antigens causes skin inflammation and other consequences. According to statistics, diathesis is observed in 1/3 of children, therefore this disease is considered common in pediatric practice.

There are several types of diathesis. Among them is allergic diathesis in children. It is usually discovered between the ages of 3 and 6 months. The disease persists for 1-2 years and then disappears in most children. The child, while still in the mother's womb, can feel the effects of allergens that enter the mother's body. And allergens are transmitted to infants during breastfeeding and as a result of receiving complementary foods.

Causes (etiology) of allergic diathesis in children

Allergic diathesis in children is a disease that is transmitted genetically (hereditarily). It is also formed due to the peculiarities of immunological protection and enzyme formation in the child’s body, and as a result of the influence of the external environment.

The risk factor is, first of all, the development of the fetus inside the womb. The fetus is affected by poor nutrition of the mother and toxicosis. Allergic diathesis can result from damage to the central nervous system during childbirth or fetal hypoxia. The development of the disease is influenced by the nature of feeding, infection and massive drug therapy. It is characteristic that artificial feeding is also the cause of diathesis. Children whose mothers breastfeed are 5-7 times less likely to suffer from allergic diathesis.

A typical source of allergens is food that has not been cooked:

• raw milk
• eggnog
• berries whipped with egg white

Diathesis is also caused by foods that have undergone heat treatment, but have retained their allergenic properties, for example, fish, nuts. The cause of diathesis is ordinary foods if the child eats them in excess. For example, diathesis can occur if the child’s diet mostly consists of dairy products: yoghurt, milk, sweet cheeses.

If a child eats some foods rarely, but in large quantities, allergic diathesis may also occur. For example, these are berries that come once a season. You should not give your child foods that are not appropriate for their age: shrimp, caviar, etc. Risk factors are also abuse of sweets (desserts), irrational and chaotic nutrition, and excessive amounts of spicy and salty foods in the diet. The disease can also appear if many new foods are introduced into the child’s diet in a short time. Thus, the child develops allergies not only to food, but also to dust, wool, etc.

Pathogenesis (what happens?) during allergic diathesis in children

Forms of diathesis can be immune and non-immune. The first form includes transient and true diathesis. These two options are based on the overproduction of immunoglobulins E (IgE) and a decrease in IgA, IgG and the level of T-lymphocytes. The transient variant occurs when a cow's milk antigen enters the blood, and the excess production of IgE is secondary.

Antigenemia results from insufficient digestion of albumin due to deficiency or low activity of specific enzymes and increased gastrointestinal permeability to protein in young children. Babies under 6 months have a low intestinal immunological barrier, which is associated with a very small amount of SlgA in the mucosa. Secretory immunoglobulin is present in mother's milk, so when a baby is breastfed, its deficiency is covered.

The antigen, being in the child’s blood, provokes hyperproduction of IgE. The same reaction can occur to medications, vaccinations, children's cosmetics, household chemicals, etc. Antigenemia does not manifest itself as diathesis in all children. The failure of the child's tissue barriers is important in pathogenesis. There may be a deficiency of blocking antibodies in the body, which leads to the free formation and fixation of haptens in the skin and mucous membranes. Reagin sensitization develops.

Next, local degranulation of mast cells occurs. Biological active substances are released. Vascular permeability increases, exudative reactions occur. In a minority of cases, allergic diathesis is based on true immune genesis. Overproduction of IgE is inherited and manifests itself when an antigen enters the body. This form can develop into allergic diseases.

An important link in the pathogenesis is neuroendocrine and metabolic disorders. Diathesis often occurs in children with posthypoxic encephalopathies. It is assumed that hypoxic conditions can provoke endocrine disorders, which are manifested in most cases by dyscorticism.

Symptoms (clinical picture) of allergic diathesis

The division of allergic diathesis into various options is of greater importance for medical practice and for a better understanding of the mechanism of development of the disease. There are no significant differences in the manifestation of these variants in patients.

The main symptoms of allergic diathesis in children are:

• Children, according to the constitutional type, are hypersthenics (physically well developed);
• In the first year of life, these children show signs of atopic dermatitis;
• Very often, children are irritable and capricious, they have sleep disorders and decreased appetite;
• Children with allergic diathesis may have an enlarged liver, often there are signs of biliary dyskinesia and even cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder);
• Characteristic manifestations of dysbacteriosis are constipation, unstable stools, abdominal pain, flatulence and other symptoms;
• Children are prone to the development of chronic foci of infection and a protracted course of infectious diseases; they have an enlargement of the lymph nodes and spleen;
• Long-term low-grade fever is typical;
• Poor tolerance to heavy physical exertion.

The transition of allergic diathesis into one or another allergic disease largely depends on age. Thus, in the first year of life, allergic diathesis most often turns into atopic dermatitis. In preschool age, these are most often respiratory allergies, including bronchial asthma. At school age, diathesis can lead to eczema, neurodermatitis, and dermatorespiratory allergies.

Diagnosis of allergic diathesis in children

Laboratory methods are used for diagnosis. Eosinophilia increases, which indicates allergization. Protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism are disrupted. This can be seen by a decrease in the level of albumin and gamma globulins, hypo- and dysproteinemia, amino acid imbalance, hypocholesterolemia, and high initial sugar levels. The balance of acids and bases shifts towards acidosis.

Also, allergic diathesis is primarily diagnosed by external manifestations, such as characteristic changes in the skin and mucous membranes, hyperplasia of lymphadenoid tissue. Doctors also note the phenomenon of paratrophy. The child’s body is less resistant to infectious diseases.

Treatment of allergic diathesis in children

Based on the diagnostic data obtained, doctors develop a special diet for the child. You must strictly adhere to the doctor's recommendations! Using ointments without a doctor's prescription is strictly contraindicated, since what you may mistake for diathesis may be a manifestation of more serious diseases.

Doctors may prescribe medications to relieve itching and strengthen the immune system. Doctors prescribe ointments and lotions as local treatment. The child is given baths with string, oak bark, potassium permanganate, celandine, etc.

Forecast

By eliminating allergens in a child’s life and following a special diet, by the age of two or three, the enzyme and immune systems are differentiated, the barrier functions of the skin and mucous membranes are increased, and metabolic processes are stabilized. Only in some children (mainly with a true immune form of the disease and unfavorable living conditions) does the allergic diathesis develop into allergic diseases such as eczema, neurodermatitis, and bronchial asthma.

Prevention of allergic diathesis in children

Prevention of allergic diathesis can be carried out when the child is not yet born. Infectious diseases of the mother and the use of medications during pregnancy should be avoided. A pregnant woman should eat properly and regularly and try to avoid a monotonous diet. During breastfeeding, the diet should be especially varied.

If your child has or has had diathesis, it is better to take a food allergen test to find out which foods should not be given to him.

Which doctors should you contact if you have allergic diathesis in children?

• Pediatrician
• Dermatologist

Allergic diathesis (or in medical terminology - dermatitis) is a specific skin inflammation and rash that appears as a result of exposure to irritating allergic factors (food, medicine or a component of household chemicals). It may appear as redness, peeling, or rash on various parts of the body. What does diathesis look like in an infant? And how to treat diathesis-dermatitis?

Diathesis is an allergic reaction of the body, which in medical terminology is called atopic dermatitis, exanthema. This disease affects 70% of children under one year old. At the same time, the majority of allergic diathesis are food-related (formed due to inappropriate nutrition - the wrong thing or the wrong thing was eaten, not digested).

The appearance of diathesis is explained by a number of factors, including heredity, feeding habits, frequency of contact with potential allergens and various toxic substances.

The main symptom by which diathesis is diagnosed in a child is the appearance of irritation (inflammation) on the skin.

Skin inflammation looks like redness of the skin, peeling, rash:

• Redness– may appear in varying degrees, ranging from pale pink to bright red. Cheeks often turn bright red after eating citrus fruits. After mom eats chocolate, a pinpoint rash appears more often. Diathesis in newborns is formed due to improper nutrition of the mother. Diathesis in complementary feeding infants is due to inappropriate or too early introduction of complementary foods. In most cases, diathesis on the cheeks of infants is of food origin.
• Peeling– also of varying degrees, from barely noticeable to strong. Examples of severe flaking are children's "lep" - dense keratinized areas of old skin on the scalp. They appear in most children at the age of 2-3 months. Dandruff is also often a manifestation of allergic peeling. Peeling and redness form red, rough spots on the child’s skin. Often, diathesis on a baby’s face looks like this – in the form of flaky pink spots of different sizes.
• Rash- usually in the form of small pimples of various locations - on the cheeks, stomach, back, groin or other parts of the body. The appearance of a rash is associated with processes of internal intoxication, the presence of toxins in the blood.

The listed symptoms accompany the so-called “dry” diathesis. In addition, there is a “wetting” diathesis. With it, the rash looks like blisters, which after a while burst and form “weeping” areas.

In addition to the listed symptoms visible to everyone, dermatitis (inflammation) is accompanied by swelling, which causes unpleasant painful sensations. Therefore, the skin at the site of allergic manifestations often not only itches, but also hurts. The child experiences discomfort - itches, is capricious, and cries. Therefore, allergic dermatitis requires diagnosis (identifying the causes and type of allergens) and proper treatment (it consists of removing the rash, redness, itching and other painful sensations).

Good to know: dermatitis and diathesis are different names for the same process. This is an allergic reaction that occurs often in children and less often in adults. The word “diathesis” is more often used to refer to allergies in children. And the term “dermatitis” is used to refer to an allergic reaction in adults.

What are the causes of diathesis?

Doctors classify dermatitis (diathesis) according to the reasons for their occurrence into food, contact and household, and medicinal. Let us describe in more detail the two most common causes of skin allergies.

Food allergic reaction

In 90% of cases, childhood diathesis is formed due to indigestibility of foods. This is confirmed by the fact that the same 90% of diathesis go away by the age of 7-8 years. And only real (true) diathesis are preserved, the cause of which is an individual reaction of intolerance to certain substances.

It is the indigestibility of food components that most often causes diathesis in infants. The digestive system of children under one year of age (and especially up to six months) is still just forming and is saturated with enzymes. Infants do not digest new food well; their digestion fully processes only mother's milk. Therefore, in many infants, artificial feeding or early complementary feeding are the causes of diathesis.

With age, diathesis in infants goes away, appears less frequently and does not occupy such large areas of the body.

This is explained by the maturation of the liver and the improvement of digestion, improving the digestibility of food. The child begins to eat different foods, and the allergy goes away. As a rule, by the age of 9-10 years, the frequency of allergic manifestations decreases. Out of 10 children with allergies, there remain 1-2 people who retain an atypical reaction to various components of food (often to food additives and other chemical components contained in many products).

Contact allergic reaction

If food diathesis is a manifestation of internal poisoning, then contact diathesis (dermatitis) is the result of external interaction with certain substances (household chemicals, bleach from tap water). Often these substances are toxins, potential poisons. In an adult, such poisons are neutralized and eliminated from the body without visible manifestations. Therefore, they do not develop an allergic rash or skin inflammation.

The body of a newborn or infant cannot cope with toxins entering through the skin or breath. Therefore, in places of contact with the allergen, swelling occurs, redness, and a rash appear. A common cause of diathesis is indigestibility, chronic poisoning, and inability to neutralize toxins entering the body.

Good to know: Allergic dermatitis also occurs in adults, but much less frequently. Just 20 years ago, diathesis in adults was an extremely rare occurrence. And only in the last 10 years has it gained mass popularity. This is explained by the daily intake of toxic substances into the body (along with poor-quality food and polluted air).

Localization of diathesis and its manifestations

More often than others, diathesis appears on the cheeks and buttocks (diaper dermatitis occurs in the diaper area if the diaper is not changed often enough). Favorite places for dermatitis spots to appear are areas of the body that often get wet:

• Around the mouth and on the face– where the child’s saliva gets in.
• In my arms– also due to saliva getting in (a breastfed baby often pulls his fingers into his mouth).
• In the groin, neck, armpits(due to summer sweating).

The localization of rashes in areas of frequent wetting is associated with the release of toxins through the skin. In areas of excessive sweating or frequent contact with saliva, toxic substances cause an irritation reaction and skin inflammation.

With an extensive reaction, diathesis can spread throughout the body, affecting the torso, neck, arms and legs. In addition, a severe allergic reaction is dangerous due to the general swelling that accompanies any inflammation. Therefore, such allergies must be treated in a hospital with specific hormonal drugs.

More often, diathesis has local manifestations in certain areas of the body.

Diathesis in newborns on the face can appear for almost any reason. The digestive system of newborn children is the most vulnerable. Therefore, the cause of redness and rashes can be any product (watermelon, apple, pork cutlet, tangerine, orange, sweets and chocolate) eaten by a nursing mother.

What does diathesis look like on a child’s cheeks:

• Dry red spots are areas of inflamed skin.
• Weeping red spots are the same inflammation with the release of liquid exudate.
• Slight pinkness of the cheeks.
• Minor rash.

Diathesis on a child’s bottom looks similar. It can be prevented by frequent diaper changes. Dry areas of skin are less likely to become covered with diathesis rashes and spots than areas that are often wet.

How to treat diathesis and reduce allergies

It is impossible to cure diathesis in a child in one week or month. But it is possible to create conditions in which allergic reactions will decrease.

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Here's what you need to do to reduce the frequency and severity of allergies:

• The first and main treatment for diathesis is to limit and minimize contact with the allergen.. If you know for sure that oranges will give your child a rash, don’t eat even one slice. The appearance of a rash is not harmless. Any allergic manifestations reduce immunity and cause pain to the baby.
• Improve digestion. For this purpose, enzymes and probiotics are used (drugs that supply bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to the human intestines). They also limit the amount of food eaten (this requirement is relevant for bottle-fed children, as well as when complementary foods are introduced). Since allergies are a consequence of incomplete absorption of food components, in order to cure diathesis, it is necessary to create conditions for the complete absorption of milk or other food. The first is to provide digestion with the necessary enzymes and probiotics (they are the ones who break down complex substances into simple molecules). The second is to normalize the amount of food consumed so that lactic acid bacteria can cope with its processing.
• Follow a diet. It is necessary to treat diathesis in a child older than 9 months along with a diet. Since allergies often occur to foreign proteins, it is necessary to exclude protein products from the menu (cow’s milk, meat - if complementary foods have already been introduced, broths). It is also necessary to exclude sugar. If the cause of an allergic rash in a child is toxins in the intestines, then sugar initiates their decay and renews the rash. Also excluded from the menu of a nursing mother or from the list of complementary foods are bright red and orange fruits and fruits from tropical countries. Our digestion poorly breaks down “foreign” ones from a distant growing region (there are not enough necessary enzymes).
• Cleanse the intestines of toxins– this measure helps in the treatment of allergies in children older than six months, whose diet has been supplemented with complementary foods. Treatment of diathesis in children from newborn to six months (breastfed) does not require bowel cleansing. Their main food - mother's milk - is absorbed almost completely. To adsorb and remove toxins, the child is given smecta, charcoal, polysorb and other similar drugs.
• Diathesis often develops against the background of calcium deficiency. Therefore, one of the ways to treat diathesis in an infant is to replenish the child’s calcium supply in an absorbable form. To do this, use calcium-containing preparations (the simplest and most accessible is calcium gluconate) or folk remedies - eggshells.

Important: Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium. Therefore, the mineral complex must contain not only calcium, but also this vitamin.

In order to cure dermatitis and not suffer from allergic reactions in adulthood, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of allergic manifestations, limit contact with the allergen, and do not feed the baby those foods that make him rash. The frequent appearance of rashes as a result of contact with allergens can subsequently cause serious allergic diseases - psoriasis, neurodermatitis, bronchial asthma.

How to treat diathesis on a child’s cheeks: external ointments

External treatment is not the main thing; it does not act on the cause of the disease, but helps reduce pain. For external treatment of diathesis rashes, drying ointments and creams are used. And for an extensive painful rash - specific hormonal creams.

You can use hormonal drugs even for external treatment after consultation with an allergist. Corticosteroids are potent components of drugs that must be prescribed by a competent doctor in order to receive only benefits from treatment without side effects or unpleasant consequences.

Allergic diathesis in a child is caused by the body’s high susceptibility to the food consumed, which arises as a result of hereditary characteristics of the immune system, neuro-vegetative system, and metabolism. Due to the unfavorable environmental situation and poor nutrition, the risk of contracting allergic diseases increases.

Diathesis in adults is rare. This disease mainly occurs in infants (up to six months). Children are susceptible to developing diathesis if their parents had the disease. For example, the risk of contracting diathesis is 30% if the father has allergic diseases, and 50% if the mother has allergies. If two people have allergies, the risk of infection is 75%.

Often allergic diathesis in children manifests itself during acute infectious diseases. In infants, it is formed if during pregnancy the mother took certain medications or did not follow a proper diet. Toxicosis during pregnancy can also have an adverse effect.

A child, while still in the mother’s womb, can feel the effects of irritants that penetrate the mother’s body.

There are such types of allergic diathesis: atopic, atoimmune, infectious-allergic.

Atopic

Features of atopic diathesis are:

• The presence of hereditary allergic diseases on the part of the father and mother;
• With this type of diathesis, there is an increase in the synthesis of IgE and the presence of specific IgE, an increase in the number of protective Th2 helper cells, and a lack of immunoglobin A.

Autoimmune

Autoimmune diathesis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• High skin sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation;
• High level of ɣ-globulins in the blood;
• Multiple detection of antinuclear factor, LE cells, high levels of IgM, polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes and T helper cells during a decrease in the activity of T suppressor cells.

Infectious-allergic

This type of diathesis has the following differences:

• An elevated body temperature has been observed for a long time after suffering an acute infectious disease;
• The course of the disease is characterized by painful sensations in the joints and heart;
• The risk of vasculitis (a disease that affects blood vessels) increases.

Reasons

The reasons are:

• Heredity;
• Weak immunity (poor environment, poor living conditions, poor nutrition).

Of particular importance on the development of diathesis is how the mother ate during pregnancy. Also the nature of breastfeeding. A baby who consumes mother's milk about 6 times a day is much less likely to develop diathesis.

The main irritants are food that has not been pre-processed. For example, raw milk, eggs. But diathesis can also be caused by food that has been processed in advance - fish, nuts. Diathesis can also develop due to frequent use of a product. Let's say if the baby eats a lot of dairy products: kefir, milk, yogurt.

The child's diet should be comprehensive and balanced. All groups of vitamins must be present. By organizing baby food in this way, illness can be avoided.

As for the causes of diathesis in infants, it should be said that mother’s milk is the best food for infants, because it prevents bacteria and food irritants from entering the child’s body. There are cases when babies experience allergic reactions to breast milk during breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that the mother consumes raw cow's milk during pregnancy or lactation.

Therefore, in order for the baby not to develop allergies, the mother must eat properly. Do not eat irritants. You should not overuse foods such as: cheese (soft varieties), fish, onions, garlic. Focus on fermented milk products.

Symptoms

Symptoms of allergic diathesis are varied and can manifest differently in children of different ages.

In infants

The expression of diathesis on the body can occur from a very early age, starting from the first weeks of a baby’s life. Mostly occurs between the ages of six months and one year. Scales appear on the scalp, and diaper rash appears on the skin folds.

Later the following symptoms appear:

• Redness of the skin of the cheeks;
• Peeling skin on the cheeks;
• Strophulus.

After a year

After one year of age, children experience the following symptoms:

• Enlarged liver;
• Inflammation of the gallbladder;
• , pain in the abdomen, gas;
• Fast weight gain;
• Throat diseases (laryngitis);
• Pallor;
• Erythematous papular rash;
• Inflammation of the eyes;
• Respiratory diseases.

Also with this disease, changes in urine and intestinal dysfunction occur. If symptoms of diathesis are detected, treatment must be started immediately.

Treatment

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to identify the irritant that caused the diathesis. It can be either food or house dust. The main thing is to get rid of the allergen. Treatment includes a mandatory diet and the use of medications that help eliminate peeling of the child’s skin, and drug therapy is also prescribed.

Diet

Folk remedies

Allergic diathesis can be treated with folk remedies. The use of bay leaves is considered effective. A decoction is prepared from it. You need to take ten leaves, boil them in 1 liter of water for several minutes, add one spoon of rose hips. Leave the broth for 12 hours and then give the baby 1 tsp. 4 times a day

The use of eggshells is also considered effective. You need to boil the egg, peel it, then cook the shell for a few more minutes. Dry the shell and grind it to a powder consistency. The drug is ready. The powder mass is given on the tip of a spoon, after adding a few drops of lemon juice. Give once a day for about 2 months.

During the entire course of treatment, the child should take daily baths with celandine, rice or potato starch.

Prevention

The basis of prevention is the diet of a pregnant girl and nursing mother. You need to eat only pre-processed foods that contain many vitamins and nutrients. You should remove nuts, chocolate, eggs, sausage, and coffee drinks from your diet.

• From birth, the baby is required to eat breast milk. Complementary foods must be introduced.
• Child care must be carried out with special means for children. Wash your child's clothes with baby powder or soap.
• Keep your home clean. It is advisable that there are no down pillows and blankets in the house, as they can become irritants.

Allergic diathesis is a common disease in children, occurring even in newborns. If you notice the first signs of diathesis, you should undergo a medical examination by a doctor. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe treatment and choose the right diet.