Idiopathic urticaria in children and adults: treatment and symptoms

Disease concept

In fact, urticaria is not one particular disease. By this concept, doctors mean a number of diseases accompanied by the appearance of diffuse or organic rashes on the child’s body. This rash has a primary morphological element in the form of a papule. This is a blister of varying sizes, the appearance of which is accompanied by itching. In more detail, a papule is an organic swelling, accompanied by redness along the periphery and pale skin in the middle.

The sizes of such papules, as a rule, range from a few millimeters to several centimeters. Such rashes are temporary and often disappear within a few days. A condition is considered dangerous when the rash affects the deeper layers of the skin. In this case, there is a risk of angioedema.

Classification of urticaria

According to its duration and course, the disease is divided into acute and chronic forms. The acute form occurs suddenly and spontaneously. Its duration is usually 4-6 weeks. If the rash persists for more than 1.5 months, doctors diagnose a chronic form of the course.

According to clinical forms, the following types of disease are distinguished:

• Spontaneous.
• Contact.
• Physical.

The latter type develops in a child under the influence of various external provoking factors. In addition, the disease is divided according to allergic or non-allergic origin.

In childhood, urticaria is often acute. The disease can act either as an independent illness or as a symptom of some other illness.

Compound

The medicinal properties of the drug are determined by its composition and the effect of active substances.

Suprastin tablets contain:

1. Active substance chloropyramine hydrochloride 25 mg.
2. Stearic acid 3 mg.
3. Gelatin 4 mg.
4. Sodium carboxymethyl starch (type A) 6 mg.
5. Talc 6 mg.
6. Potato starch 40 mg.
7. Lactose monohydrate 116 mg.

Additional substances allow the active ingredient to maintain its effectiveness and necessary properties longer.

Suprastin solution contains:

1. The active substance is chloropyramine hydrochloride in an amount of 20 mg.
2. Water up to 1 ml.

Before using the solution, you must carefully read the instructions for the drug.

Causes of development of the acute form of the disease

Urticaria in a child can appear under the influence of various provoking factors. In most cases, the disease develops spontaneously and has an acute course.

Let us name the main causes of pathology in children:

• Eating foods that are allergens. These can be eggs, nuts, honey, red berries and fruits, various artificial food additives, etc.
• A bite of an insect. The poison that an insect leaves in the skin when it bites can cause a fairly severe allergic reaction in a person.
• Body contact with various plants that produce toxins. Such crops include nettle, ragweed and other plants.
• Infections of viral origin.
• Treatment with certain medications.

If any rash appears on a child’s body, you should consult with a specialist in order to begin treatment in a timely manner and prevent the development of complications.

What it is

Idiopathic urticaria is an allergic reaction of the body to a specific irritant. Pathology can be a symptom of a disease. There are two types of illness.

Kinds:

• Acute – duration less than six weeks,
• Chronic – lasts longer than six weeks.

Idiopathic urticaria is diagnosed in three percent of the population and does not depend on gender, age or nationality.

A distinctive feature of the disease is that in most cases the causes and conditions of the disease cannot be established. In the past, all types of urticaria were called idiopathic. But with the development of medicine, only such a pathology was called chronic idiopathic urticaria. In this case, we mean the absence of visible causes of the disease.

Urticaria is of autoimmune origin and has a code in the classification of international diseases - L50.1.

There are several types of idiopathic urticaria.

Types:

• True – the human body’s response to a specific allergen.
• Pseudoallergic - in this case, the reaction appears as a result of a chemical or physical action.
• Contact – diagnosed with an allergy to objects that have been in contact with the skin for a long time.

Reasons for the development of the chronic form

In addition to the acute course, the disease can be chronic.

This type of disease develops under the influence of the following provoking factors:

• Skin irritation from environmental factors. This applies to wind, frost, cold, sun, vibration and other things.
• The patient has autoimmune disorders.
• Diseases related to the endocrine system.
• Diseases of allergic origin, for example, bronchial asthma, various dermatitis and more.
• Viral, bacterial or fungal infections with a chronic course.

The chronic form of the disease requires longer treatment and often causes various complications in the child.

You might be interested in: Streptoderma in children

Contraindications

Contraindications for the use of Suprastin include:

• Individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Angle-closure glaucoma.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Problems urinating (urinary retention).
• Diseases of the liver and urinary system.
• Lactase deficiency.
• Lactose intolerance.
• Prostatic hyperplasia.

The drug is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, children under three years of age and the elderly.

Development mechanism

The development of urticaria is due to the fact that, under the influence of various provoking factors, mast cells of the dermis are activated, which is accompanied by the release of cytoplasmic granules they contain into the surrounding layers of the skin.

This phenomenon in medical practice is called degranulation. These granules contain the inflammatory mediator histamine. This entails the development of symptoms characteristic of urticaria.

Symptoms of the disease depending on the type

The clinical picture of the disease in children directly depends on the form of the disease. Let's consider the main types of illness and manifestations found in children.

Cold

This form of pathology develops in children when the skin is exposed to cold air or water. The risk group includes children with reduced immunity, various chronic diseases and vitamin deficiency. The symptoms are as follows:

• Rashes and peeling on the face and hands.
• Headache.
• Weakness.
• Nasal congestion.
• Conjunctivitis.

Treatment consists of the use of antiallergic drugs and the elimination of associated pathologies.

At the same time, the child should not become hypothermic. Food and drink should only be eaten warm.

Acute

The acute form of the disease develops under the influence of various irritants. This applies to food, lectures, chemicals, pet hair and more. The clinical picture looks like this:

• Rashes on the body.
• Itching, redness, swelling.
• General weakness.
• It happens that the baby develops indigestion.

Therapy consists of eliminating the allergen and using antihistamines.

If the child has come into contact with the allergen, this area of ​​skin is washed with plenty of running water.

Chronic

The chronic type of disease develops when other forms of the disease are untimely or improperly treated. This form of the disease is rare in children under two years of age. The clinical picture is characterized by alternating periods of remission and exacerbation.

Treatment consists of limiting the patient's exposure to allergens and using antihistamines. In addition, antipruritic, decongestant and painkillers may be required.

Papular

Urticaria of the papular type is an acute form of the disease that is caused by strong allergens, for example, insect venom or contact with a plant containing poison. The clinical picture in a child with the papular type of the disease is as follows:

• The appearance of characteristic papules.
• Thickening of the dermis.
• The appearance of pigmentation.
• Itching, burning, swelling.
• Increased body temperature in the affected area.

To combat clinical signs, it is important to limit contact with the allergen as soon as possible.

Treatment is carried out with the help of antiallergic, decongestant drugs and sorbents.

Pigmented

This form of the disease often develops when the child has a hereditary predisposition or a weakened immune system. Symptoms of urticaria pigmentosa include:

• Damage to large areas of the dermis with purple rashes.
• General increase in body temperature.
• Damage to internal organs often occurs.
• The child has a rapid heartbeat.

Treatment of this type of disease is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting, since the risk of damage to internal organs and death is very high.

When urticaria pigmentosa develops in newborn infants and young children, the baby requires emergency medical care in a hospital setting.

Dermographic

This type of pathology in infants and older children occurs due to mechanical damage to the dermis. These can be wounds, scratches, scratches, abrasions. The main symptom of the disease is the appearance of raised scars with clear boundaries on the body.

1246847579

Such rashes practically do not itch. Therapy consists of using wound-healing and bactericidal ointments, as well as avoiding synthetic clothing and maintaining the correct microclimate in the room where the child is.

Idiopathic

This type of disease often occurs in children for unknown reasons. It is believed that both stressful situations and various natural allergens can provoke pathology. Symptoms of pathology in a child include the following:

• Scarlet rash.
• Soreness.
• Itching, swelling, hyperemia.
• Decreased appetite.
• Deterioration in sleep quality.
• Depression, weakness.

You might be interested in: Molluscum contagiosum in children

Treatment involves the use of antiallergic, decongestant, and antipruritic drugs.

Painkillers and antipyretics are often required.

Adverse reactions

Side effects of the drug include:

• General weakness, drowsiness or, on the contrary, atypical agitation.
• Headache.
• Tachycardia.
• Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (pain, nausea, stool disturbances, vomiting, loss of appetite).
• Dry mucous membranes.
• The appearance of a skin rash.
• Itching.
• Reduced blood pressure levels.
• Muscle weakness.
• Urinary dysfunction.

If side symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible and consult about changing the medication.

Photos of the disease in children

In these photos you can see what urticaria looks like in children.

Urticaria in children, which our readers can see in the photo, requires emergency care, since the lack of treatment can cause quite serious complications in the child.

Diagnostics

Many parents are interested in the question of what tests should a child undergo if urticaria develops? Let's name the main diagnostic methods used for this disease:

• Anamnesis collection.
• Physical examination of the patient.
• Assessment of disease activity. In this case, a special scale called Urticaria Activity Score is used.
• Taking blood and urine tests.

Making a diagnosis is usually not difficult. Immediately after this, the doctor selects the necessary medications to eliminate negative symptoms.

It is necessary to understand that until the main cause of the disease is eliminated, for example, contact with an allergen or a viral infection, the use of any medications will not give the expected therapeutic effect.

Interaction with other tools

When interacting with other drugs, Suprastin exhibits different effects.

Strengthening the properties of drugs is observed when combined with the following medications:

• barbiturates,
• M-anticholinergics,
• opioid analgesics.

Strengthening the effect of these drugs does not always have a positive effect on the human body, therefore, before starting to take Suprastin, you should consult a doctor about a possible combination of drugs.

Emergency care for urticaria in children

As medical practice shows, in the acute course of the pathology, rashes appear suddenly, but can also disappear abruptly over the course of several hours or days. The main problem is that the child develops severe itching. The patient may scratch the skin, which increases the risk of bacterial infection.

The first emergency aid for the development of the disease in children is as follows:

1. Eliminating the allergen.
2. Using a drug to relieve itching. Medicines such as Psilo-balm, Fenistil, Desitin and others help well.
3. Parents should be careful to ensure that the child does not scratch the rash. If the baby is 2-3 years old, you can put special gloves on him. It is easier to explain to children 8-11 years old that under no circumstances should they scratch the rash, as this can lead to infection of the wound.
4. If the patient's condition worsens, for example, when severe swelling appears, vomiting, headache and other negative symptoms develop, it is necessary to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Before the doctors arrive, the child should be provided with moral and physical peace, plenty of fluids, and the correct microclimatic conditions in the room where he is staying.

If swelling on the skin appears as a result of an insect bite, it is necessary to tightly bandage this area of ​​skin to prevent further spread of the allergen throughout the body.

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, the following symptoms are observed:

• the appearance of hallucinations,
• anxiety,
• loss of body coordination
• convulsions.

In case of overdose in children it is typical:

• excitation,
• pupil dilation,
• dry mouth,
• redness of the facial skin,
• cardiopalmus,
• problems with urination (urinary retention),
• fever,
• coma.

In case of overdose in an adult patient the following are observed:

• signs of fever,
• redness of the skin of the face,
• increased irritability,
• the appearance of seizures,
• depressive state
• coma.

To provide first aid to a person, it is necessary to lavage the stomach and give activated charcoal. Actions are effective up to 12 hours after the onset of overdose.

After providing first aid, you should call a doctor for further examination and additional measures.

Treatment of the disease in children

To choose the appropriate tactics for treating the disease, the doctor must correctly determine the form of the pathology. Finding out what type of allergen caused the disease is considered equally important. The main goal of treatment is to avoid contact with the allergen, treat another disease that could provoke urticaria, and use medications that eliminate the main manifestations of the disease.

Drug therapy

Let's consider a list of the main groups of medications used in the treatment of this pathology in children. It is important to note that any drugs in children can only be used as prescribed by a specialist, otherwise it can lead to serious complications.

So, the medications that are prescribed for urticaria:

• Various antiallergic drugs are used to block histamine receptors. They allow you to quickly eliminate the manifestations of the disease, which leads to relief of the patient’s well-being.
• If the urticaria was caused by food, the child is prescribed sorbents to cleanse the digestive organs of toxins. Often, drugs such as Smecta, Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum and others are prescribed for this purpose.
• When the temperature rises, antipyretic drugs are used. In this case, the child may be prescribed medications such as Nurofen, Paracetamol, Panadol.
• To eliminate pain and swelling, agents that have an analgesic and anti-edematous effect are used.

You may be interested in: Differential diagnosis of rash in a child

In case of severe illness, the child is hospitalized, since the risk of developing Quincke's edema and death is very high. After completing the therapeutic course, it is necessary to take tests again to monitor the situation.

Feeding recommendations

Diet in the treatment of pathology is very important. The nutrition that we will consider below in the table is suitable for almost all types of urticaria. So, here is a list of foods that are allowed and prohibited when you are sick.

Let's find out what you can and can't eat if you have a rash.

Expert opinion

Ksenia Dunaeva

User experience expert and comment moderator. Higher medical education and more than 5 years of actual practice.

Ask Ksenia

On various forums you can come across the following question from parents: in how many days will the child’s hives go away? If the patient received competent medical care, the allergen was eliminated, and the baby adhered to proper nutrition, the disease, as a rule, goes away in 1-3 days without various complications.

Strengthening the immune system

To prevent recurrent cases of the disease, it is important for parents to direct their actions to strengthen the child’s immune defense.

To do this, you should follow these tips:

• Eat properly.
• Walk outdoors more often.
• Lead an active lifestyle and play sports.
• Avoid foods that cause allergies.
• Treat viral and bacterial diseases in a timely manner.

In the warm season, it will be useful to relax on the sea coast or in sanatoriums. Reviews from parents indicate that strengthening the immune system helps to cope even with chronic types of urticaria in children.

Is it possible to bathe a child with hives?

Experts believe that it is possible, and sometimes even necessary, to bathe a baby with rashes.

It is important to take into account several important nuances:

• The patient's body temperature should not be elevated.
• The duration of the session should not exceed a quarter of an hour.
• The water temperature should not be too hot or cold. The optimal option is 37-38°C.
• For bathing, it is recommended to use decoctions of herbs such as chamomile, string, St. John's wort.
• After the procedure, under no circumstances should you rub your body with a towel. It is enough to blot the body with a soft napkin.

In addition, it is important to choose hygiene products with a hypoallergenic effect. This is especially important for children, for whom allergies are a common occurrence.

Prevention

To prevent primary and recurrent cases of the disease, it is important to follow preventive measures.

These include the following recommendations:

• Restricting the child from allergens.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• Avoidance of foods that may trigger an allergic reaction.
• Careful use of medications that cause an allergic reaction.
• Timely treatment of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases.

These simple rules will help maintain the health of your child and prevent the described unpleasant disease. We hope that we have answered all questions on the topic of urticaria in children, photos of the disease and emergency care for it. Take care of yourself and be happy.

pharmachologic effect

Suprastin is a drug that effectively helps with urticaria. The first generation product reduces the symptoms of pathology due to its unique properties:

• blocking histamine H1 receptors of cells,
• preventing the development of an allergic reaction,
• sedative, hypnotic effects,
• ability to relieve itching.

After taking Suprastin tablets, rapid penetration of the substance through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract is observed. In the case of intravenous or intramuscular administration, the effect of the drug lasts for 2 hours.

The total duration of action of Suprastin lasts up to 6 hours. The half-life of the drug is observed 14 hours after use.