Pyoderma in children

A common skin condition that affects kids of all ages is pyoderma. It happens when bacteria get into the skin and cause blisters, sores, or even more serious infections. Children are especially susceptible to this illness because of their immature immune systems and frequent play-related skin injuries.

Despite its frightening appearance, pyoderma is usually curable with the right medical attention. To stop the infection from growing or getting worse, early detection and treatment are crucial. Parents need to understand the signs and when to take their child to the doctor.

To assist parents in managing this illness and safeguarding their children’s health, we will examine the causes of pyoderma, typical symptoms, and efficient treatment options in this article.

What is it?

Translated from ancient Greek, the term "pyoderma" literally means "purulent skin". This fully reflects the essence of the disease. Pustules appear on the skin due to the penetration of bacteria – cocci. These are very common pathogens that literally surround a person, even if he is very sensitive to personal hygiene. Spherical cocci bacteria can affect not only children, but also adults, but in childhood the disease occurs tens of times more often due to the physiological characteristics of children"s skin. It is more delicate, thin, vulnerable, its protective functions are significantly reduced compared to the skin of an adult. The child"s local immunity is less developed, and therefore the body often cannot resist the penetration of foreign and aggressive bacteria. The younger the child, the weaker the protective functions of his skin, and therefore pyoderma, like other dermatological diseases, is especially dangerous for children under one year old, whose local immunity is practically not developed.

Medical statistics indicate that over 100 million children worldwide suffer from pyoderma each year. Furthermore, the incidence rate in developed nations is equivalent to that of the same indicator in developing nations. However, there is a particular climatic factor that influences the disease’s severity over time rather than just its frequency.

In warmer nations and areas, particularly those with tropical or subtropical climates, pediatric pyoderma is more severe and challenging.

Reasons

Pyoderma can develop primarily on completely healthy skin, and also become a complication of any skin disease, accompanied by a symptom such as itching. A child with an itchy disease (for example, dermatitis or scabies) scratches the skin, violating its integrity. The resulting wound is an excellent environment for the reproduction of cocci. Pyoderma usually affects skin that has scratches, cuts, abrasions or other lesions – burns, frostbitten areas. Bacteria – staphylococci, streptococci and other representatives of this family, getting on the wound surface, begin to multiply quite quickly, causing suppuration. Sometimes the starting mechanism that makes the skin vulnerable to cocci is violation of the temperature regime – if the baby is overheated and sweating or frozen, overcooled, then the local immunity weakens, and pathogenic bacteria quite quickly begin to "host" in the pores and hair follicles. Weakness of local skin immunity can also cause some lesions of the central nervous system, metabolic diseases, pathologies of internal organs.

Children with diabetes are frequently at risk for developing pyoderma.

• congenital diseases associated with immunodeficiency;
• weak immunity after an illness;
• hypovitaminosis (deficiency of vitamins important for the development of the child).

The following outside variables support the spread of pathogenic cocci:

• damage to the integrity of the skin;
• non-compliance with hygiene rules, insufficient care of the child"s skin;
• close enough contact with a person sick with a bacterial infection, using common toys, things, dishes, bed linen (pyoderma is contagious! );
• contact with a person who is not sick at the moment, but is a carrier (someone who recently had a bacterial infection, sometimes a latent carrier);
• psychological trauma, a state of severe or prolonged stress, overwork of the child;
• inadequate nutrition, an improperly composed diet rich in carbohydrates and fats.

Separately, it should be mentioned that inadequate hygiene is not the primary cause of the illness. When a child develops pyoderma, parents typically start to blame themselves for not monitoring it.

Naturally, frequent hand washing with soap and water procedures lessen, but do not completely eliminate, the chance of developing pyoderma. Therefore, a child with such an unpleasant bacterial infection frequently lives in a wealthy family, where they are well-groomed and surrounded by caring adults.

Classification

We are talking about acute pyoderma if the child was first affected by the disease and the parents promptly sought medical attention. If the infant frequently experiences pustular illnesses that are challenging to cure, chronic pyoderma is the cause. People refer to a localized form of the disease when there is only one affected area of the skin, such as when pustules form on the hands or in the nose. This is a diffuse form of pyoderma if pustular lesions are seen on two or more body parts.

Purulent formations can be deep if the inflammatory process affects the dermis and hair follicles, or superficial if they only affect the epidermis’ outer layer. The primary classification relates to the agent responsible for inflammation. It is crucial to identify the microbe responsible for the uncomfortable process in order to tailor treatment. The three most prevalent forms of pyoderma are:

• staphylococcal;
• streptococcal;
• streptostaphyloderma (with simultaneous infection with both staphylococci and streptococci).

Danger

Acute pyoderma is not as dangerous as one may believe. The patient becomes an infectious source, which makes him a genuine threat to others. It is inevitable that the bacterial infection will spread if he is not kept isolated during treatment.

The prognosis that doctors have for this illness is quite positive. When pyoderma is promptly and appropriately treated, complications are avoided and it does not return. However, if the child has other serious illnesses, chronic forms of the disease can greatly complicate his future. In this instance, pyoderma frequently manifests itself and, in severe cases, can result in sepsis.

If parents do not give the illness the attention it deserves, it may also be harmful to infants. Infants who suffer from pustular infections in the first month of life endure excruciating pain due to their weak and delicate skin.

Children often develop pyoderma, a bacterial skin infection that causes blisters, red sores, and occasionally excruciating swelling. It is easily transmitted by touch, particularly in young children whose immune systems are still developing. In order to avoid complications, early treatment is crucial and typically entails the use of antibiotics and good hygiene. Parents should promptly seek medical attention if they notice any symptoms of infection, such as fever or spreading sores. It is possible to stop new outbreaks and promote a speedy recovery by being aware of the symptoms and available treatments.

Symptoms and signs

Pyoderma shares many external signs with other dermatological diseases, making it challenging to diagnose at home and differentiate the condition from other skin conditions. A physician is not going to be able to do this "by eye," as only laboratory diagnostics can establish that the rash on the skin has bacterial roots. On the other hand, parents ought to be aware of when to visit a doctor.

The signs and symptoms of pyoderma are very common:

• one or more pustules or blisters with a cloudy liquid appear;
• the rash can spread further, or it can remain only on one part of the body;
• The rashes can be single, or they can merge, forming an inflammatory layer that tends to "wet";
• most often in childhood pyoderma begins on the scalp;
• pyoderma on the face and neck is rarely deep.

The rash itself has unique qualities of its own. It is possible to determine which microbe caused pyoderma if you examine it closely.

Most frequently, staphylococcus affects the hair follicle and the area surrounding it. Thus, if you look closely, you can see a growing hair in the center of the abscess. This microbe produces a fairly intense suppuration known as a furuncle or carbuncle in its deep form. It is very uncommon to have superficial staphylococcal inflammation.

Blisters filled with hazy serous fluid typically appear when streptococcus "bases" on smooth skin. The blister is always surrounded by an inflammatory border. The blister itself has extremely thin walls that are prone to breaking at the slightest pressure. There is an appearance of a yellow-gray crust where the bubble burst. After falling off, it doesn’t leave any marks or areas of depigmentation.

Simple lichen is the term for streptococcal infection in its chronic form. The microbe frequently causes ecthyma, streptoderma, and impetigo during the acute stage. A child with a diffuse form of bacterial disease may have a fever (not exceeding subfebrile values, which range from 37.0 to 37.8 degrees). Lethargy, weakness, whims, and nearly endless crying are common signs of intoxication in newborns affected by the diffuse form of the disease.

Diagnostics

When parents bring their child with a rash to an appointment, and the physician believes that the child has pyoderma, he will most likely recommend a number of crucial clinical studies to help understand the ongoing processes. This test is for syphilis and includes both general blood and urine testing in addition to blood testing for the Wasserman reaction. The basis for specific diagnostics is the extraction of a material for bacterial culture from skin blisters or pustules.

Samples are put in a nutrient medium in a lab setting, and the microbe that grows is monitored. After that, different antibiotics are given to the grown bacteria to see which kind of antimicrobial agent they are most sensitive to. It is sufficient to understand the disease’s cause and to have a treatment plan in mind for classical pyoderma that is not exacerbated by more serious conditions like HIV infection.

It is sufficient to understand the disease’s cause and to have a treatment plan in mind for classical pyoderma that is not exacerbated by more serious conditions like HIV infection.

Treatment

Antibacterial medications become the cornerstone of treatment if pyoderma is found to be a separate illness. When the results of the analysis for bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity of the microbe are received, it will become evident what kind of medication will be prescribed to a specific child. In cases where pyoderma has developed as a side effect of another illness, such as scabies, therapy for the underlying primary disease is the first step in treating pyoderma concurrently with it.

People have been surrounded by streptococci and staphylococci for so long that they have already managed to build up a certain "immunity" to the majority of antibiotics currently in use. People who take antibiotics excessively and for any reason have also contributed to the microbial resistance. Humanity is currently dealing with resistant bacteria that are difficult to combat. For this reason, an analysis is done to find out which of the current substances the microbe will be least resistant to.

For pyoderma, physicians typically select third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, or any combination of these medications.

Antibiotics in the form of a topical ointment may be prescribed for use locally in cases of benign pyoderma. Antimicrobial medications should only be taken orally when the illness is diffuse. Additionally, applying ointment is advised. For roughly seven days, acute pyoderma is treated at home in accordance with the recommended plan. Prolonged—up to two weeks—chronic.

In particular, infants and young children under three years old will receive treatment in a hospital if they have severe pyoderma and develop skin ulcers. It is recommended that patients receiving antibiotic therapy concurrently receive intravenous medications that enhance blood circulation, such as "Actovegin" and "Trental." One of the hepatoprotector medications, such as "Essentiale," may be prescribed to lessen the strain on the child’s liver. It is advised that all children with pyoderma take multivitamin complexes based on their age, which contain the required microelements, and B vitamins, particularly B6 and B 12.

Glucocorticosteroid-based ointments may be necessary in cases of deep-seated chronic pyoderma. During the acute phase, the child receives "Prednisolone" for three days at therapeutic age doses; thereafter, the drug’s dosage is progressively decreased until it stops entirely. Vaccines against staphylococcus and streptococcal bacteria are used as part of specific treatment. The child should receive external treatments two to four times a day. It is important to keep in mind that alcohol-based products do not work against microorganisms, so you should avoid using alcohol-containing liquids to cauterize abscesses and pustules.

Furacilin solution, 1% boric acid solution, 1% dioxidine solution, or 2% chlorhexidine solution are the best options for primary treatment. Before applying the ointment, any ulcerative crusts are carefully removed and soaked. Brilliant green aniline dyes are highly effective against staphylococci and streptococci, also known as "Fukortsin."

It is advised that the child adhere to a diet during treatment. As much as possible, parents should keep sweets, baked goods, and carbohydrate foods off their baby’s diet. Using a washcloth to cleanse and massage the afflicted area of skin is not advised while receiving treatment.

Sometimes, severe pyoderma—such as boils or carbuncles—needs surgical intervention. Under local anesthesia, the physician drains the cavities and opens the abscesses. Following this, the course of treatment is followed, utilizing vitamins, antiseptics, and systemic and external antibiotics. It is advised to enroll the child in a UV radiation course after they have recovered. These classes are required for people with chronic pyoderma at least twice a year.

Although pyoderma in children can be worrisome, it is treatable with prompt diagnosis and appropriate care. Parents should always be aware of any changes in their child’s skin and should consult a doctor if any questionable symptoms appear.

The key to preventing infections in children is to practice good hygiene and to keep their skin clean. Early intervention is necessary to prevent complications and guarantee a speedy recovery.

Most pyoderma cases can be successfully treated with the appropriate care, enabling kids to resume their regular activities without any long-term problems.

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