Streptoderma is a type of pyoderma, dermatological diseases associated with the formation of pustules on the skin. Quite often in the medical environment, streptoderma is called streptococcal pyoderma.
In general, streptoderma is a form of dermatosis caused by an infection of streptococcal origin. As a rule, this disease affects young children, most often males.
Streptoderma is a contagious disease that is easily transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. The method of transmission is defined as contact-household. In other words, infection occurs by touching infected and healthy skin. In the process of infection, a healthy person is more susceptible to infection, provided that the integrity of the skin or mucous membrane is damaged, if there are microtraumas and injuries – cracks, scratches, sores, etc.
From the moment of infection to the onset of streptoderma symptoms, approximately seven days elapse.
Symptoms of streptoderma
Symptoms of streptoderma include characteristic rashes on the skin of the face. Although rashes can form in other parts of the body – on the skin of the legs and arms, back and hips. Rashes with streptoderma are light pink spots of a round shape. Over time, these spots can grow up to five centimeters in diameter.
After a certain time, a crust forms on the surface of the spots, which consists of very small scales. When recovery occurs, depigmented areas remain for some time in the area of rashes. In general, after the disease, there are no traces on the skin.
Symptoms of streptoderma also include manifestations such as excessive dryness of the skin, scabies. In some cases, there is an increase in body temperature and swelling of the lymph nodes.
The danger of a disease such as streptoderma is that, under certain conditions, the disease can transform into a chronic variety. The provoking factors in the transition of acute streptoderma into a chronic form are:
– untimely or illiterate treatment of streptoderma;
– the presence on the skin of wounds or ulcerations that are difficult to heal;
– regular immersion of affected areas of the body in the cold;
– diabetes mellitus;
– Varicose vein disease.
Chronic streptoderma can lead to serious complications such as eczema of microbial origin. The development of this pathological process is evidenced by a change in the boundaries of the rashes – from a clear contour, they move to blurred borders.
Streptoderma treatment
Before a dermatologist determines the diagnosis of streptoderma, he is obliged to use differential diagnostics to exclude dermatological ailments such as dermatitis, lichen, normal skin itching and urticaria.
As a rule, the treatment of streptoderma consists in prescribing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs. In the treatment of streptoderma, ointments based on antibiotic drugs have shown themselves to be quite effective.
If necessary, a dermatologist can prescribe injections from streptococcus.
With the transition of the acute form of streptoderma into a chronic variety, a surgical opening of the rash is prescribed, the application of antibacterial compresses and dressings. For total cleaning of the skin, it is necessary to use ointments with tar and sulfur.
Treatment of streptoderma is not difficult, but it must be carried out under the strict supervision of a dermatologist. Self-treatment at best will not have any effect, and at worst will exacerbate the situation.