Treatment of toxic erythema in infants

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Thai Ngoc Chau - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Neonatal infectious erythema often occurs in the first weeks after birth, causing the baby's face to be red. Many parents worry if it is a serious infection and is there a cure?

1. Overview of toxic erythema in neonates

Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum (ETN) is also known as Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum (ETN) or fifth disease. This is a condition on the face of newborns that appears as red spots, granules, vesicles and pustules. In a short time, these rashes will go away on their own and will not affect the health of the baby.

1.1 Identification signs

Parents can rely on the following signs to recognize neonatal scarlet fever:
On the cheeks, forehead, and chin of the child appear nodules, dots, blisters, pustules on the red background, yellow or white. Some children develop pustules. The red spots may appear in clusters or scattered on the baby's face. Babies born 6 weeks after birth often have toxic erythema.

1.2. Reason

Currently, experts still need more time to study the cause of toxic scarlet fever. Here are some possible causes of the disease that have been found from several studies:
Toxic erythematosus (ETN) may be a hypersensitivity reaction to something transmitted through the placenta. Modulatory responses of the skin to thermal and mechanical stimuli or to lymphocytes transferred from mother to child across the placenta before and during birth (such as response to marrow transplants...) Hot and humid weather can easily lead to skin diseases. Frequent bottle-fed babies are also at increased risk of toxic erythema. Pregnant women with a long labor period are more likely to give birth to a baby with toxic erythema than those with a short labor period.

1.3 Complications

There are many people who think that toxic scarlet fever can cause skin damage in children. In fact, it is a transient illness that does not spread or affect the child's general health. However, in many cases, the disease can cause immunodeficiency in children.

2. Diagnosis of toxic erythema in infants

ENT disease is mainly diagnosed based on the patient's symptoms. However, doctors still need to perform tests to differentiate it from other conditions.

2.1 Subclinical diagnosis

When parents take the child to the doctor, the doctor will rely on the child's medical history, medical history, and clinical signs to diagnose toxic scarlet fever.

2.2 Differential diagnosis

Not only stopping at the clinical diagnosis, the doctor will order some tests from the fluid in the acne to evaluate and distinguish it from other diseases. Because the signs of ETN disease have similar characteristics with other skin diseases such as: pyoderma, herpes simplex or tinea pedis,...
From the tests, the doctor will identify each type of disease based on The infiltrate was characteristic of basophils and the absence of polymorphonuclear cells or bacteria on the staining results.
Some tests are applied for differential diagnosis such as:
Tzanck Smear: To identify Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster diseases by finding multinucleated giant cells. Pemphigus vulgaris, Cytomegalovirus. Wright-stained smears to confirm the existence of eosinophils. WBC Gram stain: Shows an increase in basophils (18%) in approximately 15% of patients. Other tests: Culture of viruses, bacteria, fungi. Mycoscopy with KOH Biopsy: Helps to differentiate the most accurate pathology but is not often applied.

3. Treatment

Neonatal toxic erythema is usually benign and does not pose risks and complications for young children. This disease can go away on its own without any treatment.
When going to the doctor, the doctor will carefully explain this disease so that the parents can rest assured. However, the baby's skin may be slightly red and affect the aesthetics. Therefore, you should pay attention to some of the following recommendations of the doctor to improve the condition of toxic erythema in children:
Do not bathe the child too many times a day to avoid rubbing and scratching the acne. Absolutely do not arbitrarily squeeze, squeeze the rash because the skin of a newborn baby is very sensitive and can cause infection. Do not arbitrarily buy topical drugs or antibiotics to treat because it can make the disease worse. Limit the use of skin care products, shower gels with irritating ingredients. Instead, you should choose products that are benign, gentle with the baby's skin. You can apply a cold towel to reduce the feeling of burning and discomfort for the child. In summary, erythema toxicum is a benign, non-contagious disease that can resolve on its own without treatment. Therefore, parents just need to follow the doctor's advice and should not be too worried. When children have abnormal signs, they should not self-treat at home, they should be taken to medical facilities for timely examination.
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