Threat 3: Skin infections. Natural hazards and how to avoid them

With the onset of heat, the risk of infection increases skin infections. Trichomycosis, impetigo, ringworm, pediculosis, molluscum contagiosum and other skin infections that are conditionally considered seasonal. Warm and humid environments are favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and viruses.

Danger

With improper and untimely treatment, skin infections can harm the health of the child, some infections can become chronic. For example, fungal infections and molluscum contagiosum.
With skin infections, the child remains contagious throughout the course of the disease!

Skin infections can be contracted in the pool, through toys and household items if hygiene rules are not followed, when using someone else’s shoes, clothes, towels, underwear, nail scissors.

Impetigo caused by bacteria — streptococci (contagious impetigo) and staphylococci (bullous impetigo). Pathogens enter the child’s body after cuts, insect bites, mechanical damage to the skin. Therefore, it is important to treat damaged skin with disinfectants.

Pediculosis — «collective» disease. When sending a child to a summer camp, it would be useful to recall the rules of personal hygiene and the inadmissibility of using other people’s things. The danger of pediculosis is that insects can be carriers of serious diseases — for example, typhus or relapsing fever. The source of infection is only a person.

Symptoms

• Trichomycosis: on the skin, often in the scalp, there are foci of reddening of the skin with peeling. In some cases, they are accompanied by purulent skin formations and nodular seals. In the lesions, the hair breaks and falls out. Laboratory confirmation is required to diagnose the disease.

• Impetigo: painful red spots appear on the face. Then, in place of the spots, superficial vesicles with purulent contents are formed, which turn into scabs that look like crusts. Most often, the pathological process is localized in the mouth and nose, but limbs can be affected.

• Ringworm: flaky areas with white or gray scales. Hair thinning on the head and other parts of the body.

• Pediculosis: intense itching in the head area, which causes the patient to constantly scratch his head. When examining the scalp, there are areas of damage at the site of bites with bright yellow “honey” crusts, as well as signs of inflammation of the hair follicle, skin lesions on the back of the head, at the temples and behind the ears.

• molluscum contagiosum: appears on various parts of the body. A painless rash is found on the skin, which consists of small dense flesh-colored (or pink) nodules up to 1-3 mm in size. Skin rashes may be solitary at first, then other nodules appear, which sometimes merge.

Actions

If symptoms of a skin infection are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Precautionary measures

Strengthening the immune system, proper nutrition and hygiene will help the child’s body resist skin infections. On the beach and at the pool, do not go barefoot, be sure to wear beach shoes. Do not sit on sun loungers and sand without bedding. Explain to your child that petting stray animals is dangerous, they can carry not only rabies, but also various skin infections.