Skin Diseases In Children During Monsoon - Health Tips | Fitness Tips

DR. APRATIM GOEL MD, DNB, FAGE.

Cosmetic Dermatologist and Laser Surgeon.

Goel?s Cutis Skin Studio, Mumbai, India.

Skin Diseases In Children During Monsoon

India is experiencing the long awaited monsoons which are finally here and your little one has major plans of jumping in every puddle of muddy water that he/ she comes across.

But at the same time thoughts of germs, dirt, sickness and long visits to the doctor enter your head, as your little one continues jumping away to glory. But Monsoons need not be so nerve wracking for you, when it comes to the health and safety of your child these few simple measures can easily ensure that your child not only enjoys the monsoons but stays healthy too.

The common skin infections in children during monsoons

The rainy season is notorious for bringing with it a host of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases that can range from simple viral fever and stomach upsets, to major diseases like malaria, dengue, typhoid, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, cholera, jaundice, pneumonia and leptospirosis.

Skin infections caused by bacteria and fungus due to the high moisture content of the air, too abound. While some of these diseases are spread by vectors like mosquitoes, others are either air-borne or spread by infected water and food.

Bacterial infections are mostly seen in children and fungal in adults. Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that usually rears its head during the monsoons along with common cold, fever and gastroenteritis should more or less complete the list of health risks that can befall your child during the monsoons.

Another risk that Monsoons pose for your child is that of water-borne diseases such as Cholera and Dysentery, which spread due to the contamination of drinking water.

Typhoid, a water- borne disease is also know to affect us Indians during Monsoons, owing to the contaminated food and water.

Scabies a skin infection is also common in humid climate but it is not necessarily a disease of monsoon period only.

Why are these skin infections more common in children?

• Children tend to fall sick more often during monsoons compared to adults because of low levels of immunity.
• They also play outdoors and thus come in contact with a lot of contaminants.
• Monsoons mean a lot of water everywhere and most often water gets clogged in places. Clogged water means still water that forms ideal grounds for mosquitoes to breed upon, which leads to Malaria, Dengue and other such diseases.
• During monsoons there is the high water content in the air. Most germs need high water content to thrive and grow. Stagnated water bodies are used by many insects like mosquitoes and flies to lay their eggs and grow their young ones. The sunlight capable of killing a lot of viruses and bacteria cannot reach the earth?s surface effectively due to heavy clouds.
• The ambient temperature during this season is conducive for the growth of germs. All these together in addition to pooling of water, leaky walls and roofs, overflowing gutters, water logging and impure drinking water make the season an ideal time for infections. And the only protection against many of these problems, apart from vaccinations for some of the diseases, is a high degree of personal and environmental hygiene.
• During monsoon, people sweats more due to the high humidity level as the air is filled with water vapors, the sweat does not evaporate because of which fungus gets favorable conditions to grow. This causes fungal skin diseases.
• Again, due to scratching of the prickly heat rash which arises due to sweating cause bacterial skin infections. Here, we are giving you some tips to tackle or prevent such skin infections:

General preventive measures to follow

Monsoon is an ideal time for infections to catch you. A high degree of personal hygiene will help you run away from them and enjoy the rain.

• Wear loose cotton clothes ? People should wear loose cotton clothes and avoid tight synthetic dresses,
• Regular bath ? A regular bath is necessary following which one should properly towel dry oneself.
• Keep areas susceptible of skin infections clean and dry ? As fungal and bacterial infections usually occur in body fold areas, like under arms, groins, toes (in case of men as they wear shoes) and under the breasts (in case of women), these areas should be kept clean and dry.
• Use anti-fungal powder ? Apply an anti-fungal powder prescribed by a dermatologist.
• Hygienic habits: Apart from having a bath once or twice a day and washing hands with soap frequently, there are measures you need to take to prevent illness.
• Drink pure water: One of the commonest sources of infection during the rainy seasons is water. Due to the heavy rainfall, the water that is supplied through our taps is often muddy and filled with germs. Do not consume tap water directly, at least during the rainy season, and preferably all year round.
• Watch what you eat: Like water, food too can cause several infections. Eat freshly cooked food within a few hours of preparation.
• Protect your skin: Keeping yourself dry at all times is important, as the chances of contracting infective skin diseases are high during this time. In case you get wet in the rain, shift to warm dry clothing as soon as possible. Keep an extra set of clothes at your workplace if required but don?t spend your day in wet clothes.
• Washing hands frequently also prevents other infections and is an important hygiene habit.

Treatment measures for these infections

This monsoon season you might visit your dermatologist quite frequently. The reason ? the menace of skin infection! The frequent change in weather from damp to hot to cold has an adverse effect on the child?s gentle skin.

If you do not keep a close watch on your child?s condition, it could get worse and might lead to further complications.

Bacterial infections: For any painful boils accompanied with or without fever, rash or sluggish activity of your child, you must consult a child specialist or a dermatologist at earliest. This can be accompanied by loose motions as well. However take general precautions as explained above as well as take care to keep hydrating the child well.

Ringworm/ Fungal infections: when ring shaped or circle type rash appear on various body parts including the scalp, ringworm develops. It usually begins as a small, red or scaly patchy which grows further and several rings might develop as the time passes by.

The dermatologist would suggest over-the-counter- anti fungal cream which contains clotrimazole or miconazole or an antifungal dusting powder. Keep the area dry and apply calamine lotion if needed.

Nail Infections: Nails are most prone to fungal infection during the rainy season. If your child sweats a lot and scratches much, his/ her nail would develop an infection in sometime. Even overexposure to water poses threat to nail infections.

It is very necessary to clean and cut the nails periodically and check for any infection. An anti fungal cream which contains itraconazole, terbinafine and fluconazole would be prescribed by your dermatologist to be applied twice daily. If the condition is severe, the recovery could take up to 12 weeks time.

Athlete?s Foot : When an itchy, red and moist scalp develops on your child?s feet, it could be athlete?s foot. Usually origination from the toe, the infection might spread to other areas subsequently. Your child would show some other symptoms like cracked skin, foul smell from feet, blisters.

Your dermatologist would ask you to keep your child?s feet covered. Athlete?s foot grows more in moist and humid environment. An anti fungal cream would work fro your child. The dermatologist could also prescribe some powder as well.

The doctor might advice you to change baby?s shoes and make your child wear open-toed shoes. This would allow proper air to circulate through the child?s feet.

Apart from fungal infection there are some other common skin problems which could arise during monsoon. These are diaper rash (though this could appear in any season), prickly heat rash (common in hot and humid weather) and eczema.

Since baby?s skin is quite sensitive it is strictly advisable that you follow the medication course as prescribed by the skin specialist. Do not give any medication of your own. Also check for the manufacturing and expiry date of the medicine before purchasing.

Maintain a health diary of your child as it would help your paediatrician or dermatologist to understand the symptoms and condition fully and advise medication accordingly.

Related Articles:

1. Skin Care Tips For The Monsoon
2. Skin Problems During Monsoon
3. Staying Fit In Monsoon
4. Skin Care in Rainy Season
5. Healthy Diet For Monsoon

Source: http://www.carryfitness.com/skin-diseases-in-children-during-monsoon/

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