What is diathesis?
The term “diathesis” is a collective concept since diathesis itself is not a disease. It is a form of increased reactivity of the crumb organism. It is identified by a variety of symptoms to natural stimuli. In the absence of an external allergen, diathesis becomes an allergic disease.
The term “diathesis” comes from the Greek language word disposition. It is a constitutional or hereditary predisposition to a disease or other disorder.
It occurs in the presence of various allergic diseases due to the tendency of the body. In children, the treatment of this disease needs a special approach.
Root causes and triggering factors
There is no reliable cause that provokes the appearance of diathesis in children. Only the most common underlying causes and provoking factors have been described. They predispose to the development of this disease in the body.
Diathesis is an increased reaction of the elements of the immune system of the body to a foreign protein. This is due to the crudity of the digestive tract. Enzymes are produced in small amounts to break down proteins and carbohydrates. The liver performs its function poorly.
The protein molecules go into the bloodstream in larger quantities than they should. All this leads to the fact that food products become allergens for the immune system.
As a child grows, his gastrointestinal system is rebuilt. It becomes better able to handle the transformation of various food components. Therefore, diathesis, as a rule, disappears in most children by the age of seven.
Triggering factors also include:
- Complicated pregnancy
- Nutritional features of the nutrition of the expectant mother.
- Burdened anamnesis on an allergic profile in the baby’s family.
- A woman suffers from infectious diseases. As well as pharmacological overload at the time of gestation.
- Respiratory diseases of the children in the first weeks of his life.
- Irrational nutrition of the baby, in the absence of natural breastfeeding.
- Family living conditions.
- The negative impact of environmental factors.
Symptoms of Diathesis
Diathesis is divided by specialists into several main forms. Each has its characteristics of the course and clinical symptoms:
1. The lymphatic-hypoplastic form of diathesis can occur by the following symptoms:
- Individuals increased predisposition to allergens and infectious agents.
- Dysfunction of the adrenal glands
- An increase in the size of the thymus gland and lymph nodes.
2. Nervous – an arthritic form of diathesis can occur by symptoms:
- As a result of poor metabolism and excretion of defective products from the body. The following diseases develop associated with similar conditions. Gouty arthritis, metabolic disorders, and other forms of arthritis.
3. Exudative catarrhal form of the disease:
- Decrease in the immune barriers of the body crumbs.
- Tendency to a variety of infectious individual diseases.
- Increased susceptibility of the skin and mucous membranes to irritants.
- Prolonged inflammation is practically not amenable to treatment.
As a rule, it appears on the cheeks of a child, treatment, in this case, will not be a problem. But the disease can manifest itself in other places. All forms need specialist advice who will prescribe adequate modern treatment.
Treatment
During the examination, the specialist will reveal changes on the skin e.g. redness, blistering rashes, and swelling. After diagnosis, the specialist identifies its causes that suggest how to treat diathesis.
Drug treatment of diathesis is prescribed only by a specialist. Self-medication can only worsen the condition and lead to the development of complications. For example, psoriasis and asthma.
As a local remedy, ointments, and creams (with a high content of zinc oxide) are useful. As well as lotions and local baths with sedative herbs, string, and oak bark are used.
The specialist will suggest mild natural sedatives, and remedies for itching. He will also prescribe medicine for raising the baby’s immune system. To prevent dysbiosis and raise the level of beneficial flora in intestinal loops.
A specialist may prescribe probiotics and prebiotics. When using the listed funds, it is necessary to carefully check the reaction of the body to them. If mild allergic signs appear, they should be immediately stopped.
Timely prescribed drug therapy is able to cope with diathesis as soon as possible. It prevents the development of severe complications and avoid serious diseases in the future.
Management
Diathesis in children requires immediate treatment. The initial forms of diathesis are treatable with simple methods of management. It consists in correcting the nutrition of the mother and child. Excluding:
- All fatty and spicy foods
- Seasonings and spices
- Fruits and vegetables
- Chocolate
- Honey
- Milk
As well as inappropriate hygiene measures:
- adding potassium permanganate to baths
- a decoction of string
- chamomile or celandine
- regular airing of the skin
- air baths
- frequent diaper changes
In the absence of breast milk, it is necessary to choose the most hypoallergenic formula for breastfeeding.
Particular attention is paid to the daily cleaning of the room where the baby stays most time of the day. Remove all woolen items, down duvets and pillows, carpets, and pets in advance. Carefully consider the choice of clothing, toys, as well as personal hygiene products.
