The use of Bepanten for diathesis on the cheeks of a child accelerates the healing of the skin. Before using the drug, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis. Manifestations of an allergic nature may resemble other diseases, so a medical examination cannot be ignored. You should consult a pediatrician if there are swollen red spots that become crusty, itching, or “geographic tongue” syndrome. After establishing the causes, the specialist will prescribe a competent correction and recommend a regenerating ointment.
General characteristics
"Fenistil" is an antiallergic drug whose action is based on blocking H1-histamine receptors. It is available in the form of gel and drops. Both forms are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Their characteristics are presented in the table:
| № | Characteristic | Gel | Drops (liquid) |
| 1. | Active substance | Dimetindene maleate. | |
| 2. | Amount of active substance | 1 m/1 g of product. | 1 mg/1 ml of product. |
| 3. | Excipients | Benzalkonium chloride, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, water and others. | Sorbitol, sodium hydrogen phosphate, ethanol, water and others. |
| 4. | Physical properties | Transparent substance without color, without impurities and practically odorless | |
| 5. | Package | Aluminum tube with a capacity of 30 g. | Dark glass bottle with a volume of 20 ml with a dropper. |
| 6. | Storage temperature | Below 25°C. | Below 30°C. |
The instructions for use allow the use of Fenistil drops and gel in children older than 1 month.
Cost of Bepanthen
Bepanten is a drug produced by a German company; its price may seem high to many. It averages 440 rubles per tube with 30 g of cream or ointment. The price practically does not depend on the form of release, the difference is only 15-20 rubles, while the cream is more expensive. For 50 g of the same drug you need to pay 100 rubles more.
The effectiveness of Bepanten has been confirmed not only by scientific research, but also by many parents who leave positive reviews about it. In the absence of allergic reactions to the components of the drug, it can be considered absolutely safe for use.
Features of the action
With diathesis, and this is the diagnosis made by mothers and grandmothers, if the baby has an allergy in the form of red spots or dropsy, a complex reaction of the immune system is triggered. A certain substance is perceived by the body as an “enemy”, and antibodies are synthesized to it. Upon repeated contact with the “enemy,” histamine is produced and released into the blood, which is the culprit of itching, swelling and redness of tissues in children.
Fenistil gel and drops have the ability to block cellular receptors responsible for susceptibility to histamine. In addition, dimethindene maleate:
- reduces capillary permeability for biologically active substances
- has antikitin and anticholinergic effects - reduces inflammation and pain, slows down the transmission of nerve impulses, making itching less pronounced
Gel and drops have similar properties, but the internal remedy has a pronounced systemic effect on the body. The maximum effect of the drops occurs 2 hours after use, after 6 hours they are completely eliminated. The gel acts faster - 15 minutes after application you can feel the anesthetic and antipruritic effect. Only 10% of the external agent enters the bloodstream.
What does diathesis look like in infants?
Manifestations of diathesis are varied - they appear not only in the form of skin rashes, but also changes in the general condition of the baby.
The rash may appear already in the first weeks of the baby’s life in the form of:
- gneiss – fatty scales on the scalp and eyebrows;
- milk scab - clearly defined redness on the cheeks with thickening and lumpy skin;
- blisters and crusts on the face, neck, buttocks, thighs;
- persistent diaper rash in folds, arms and legs;
- strophulus - a small nodular itchy rash on the limbs and torso;
- hives and eczema.
Causes of diathesis in newborns
The main cause of diathesis is a hereditary predisposition to the development of certain pathological conditions in a child.
The important factors are:
- improper nutrition of a pregnant woman - abuse of foods with food additives, dyes, marinades, spicy and fatty foods, a large number of allergens in the diet;
- taking various medications at different stages of pregnancy;
- frequent respiratory diseases, exacerbation of chronic infections;
- intrauterine infection of the fetus;
- complete lack of breastfeeding;
- early transfer to formula or cow's milk;
- constant contact with household allergens;
- frequent respiratory infections, taking medications, dysbiosis, chronic intoxication.
Treatment of diathesis in infants
Treatment of diathesis in an infant should begin immediately after the first symptoms of the disease appear - the duration of the pathology and the likelihood of the baby’s full recovery depend on this. In the absence of a timely and adequate course of constitutional anomalies, the implementation of hereditary predisposition and the development of diseases occur - most often atopic dermatitis and eczema.
Diathesis therapy consists of:
- in normalizing the nutrition of a nursing mother and/or child;
- in eliminating allergens from the body and intestines (enterosorbents);
- in ensuring hyposensitization (antihistamines, vitamins);
- in normalizing the functioning of the digestive system (enzymes, probiotics);
- in local relief of symptoms of diathesis (itching, inflammation, tightness) - anti-inflammatory and emollient creams, decoctions, infusions of anti-inflammatory herbs.
All medications and folk remedies are prescribed only by a doctor. It is important to remember that the most correct and effective treatment is a set of measures aimed at reducing allergenicity in the body, completely eliminating the re-entry of the allergen into the body and reducing inflammation and itching of the skin.
Bepanten for diathesis in newborns
Bepanten is considered the best remedy for reducing inflammatory processes, softening crusts, and stimulating the body's own local immunological reactivity. It has a high degree of safety and has no adverse reactions.
Fenistil for diathesis in infants
Fenistil is considered a good and safe antihistamine for diathesis. It has a convenient form, is easy to dose and has virtually no side effects. This drug, like other drugs in this group, is prescribed only by a doctor - self-medication can lead to aggravation of the pathological condition, and an incorrectly selected dose can cause unwanted side reactions.
Enterosgel for diathesis in infants
Enterosgel is almost always included in the treatment regimen for diathesis in infants to eliminate allergens and toxins accumulated in the intestines. Their prolonged absorption causes aggravation of skin manifestations and disrupts the general condition of the baby (regurgitation, anxiety, increased neuro-reflex excitability, lethargy). Enterosgel gently removes allergens, metabolic products, and toxins without causing constipation or other negative reactions.
Indications for use
In what cases can you give Fenistil drops to children under one year old or lubricate their skin with gel? The instructions for use contain the following cases:
- Allergy (food, drug, contact) in the form of:
- hives;
- rhinitis;
- hay fever
- Dermatoses accompanied by itching and caused by various diseases:
- measles;
- rubella;
- eczema;
- chickenpox.
- Insect bites.
- Mild sun and household burns (gel).
Some pediatricians recommend that children take drops for 2-3 days before and after vaccination to prevent allergic reactions. But not all experts agree with this practice. If the baby does not have a tendency to diathesis, you should not give him medicine in advance.
What is Bepanten used for?
Bepanten is a universal remedy for improving the condition of the skin when it is affected by any disease or external damage. It successfully copes with the following tasks:
- Ensuring the normal metabolic process in the thickness of the epidermis.
- Accelerating the process of formation of new skin cells.
- Preserving the integrity of the skin with constant friction.
This drug is available in the form of cream and ointment. For use in diathesis, ointment is most often used because it is thick and viscous. Due to its consistency, it takes longer to absorb, which means the effect lasts longer.
For reference! The cream is more suitable for those who need to soften and moisturize irritated skin. However, this is not a strict recommendation from pediatricians; each parent chooses the most convenient option.
Using drops
How much medicine can children under one year of age take for diathesis? How long? The amount is determined based on the child’s weight: per 1 kg of weight - 0.1 mg of dimethindene maleate per day. For example, a child weighs 6 kg. Dose calculation algorithm:
- A baby can receive 6×0.1=0.6 mg of active ingredient per day.
- 1 ml of medicine contains 1 mg of dimethindene maleate - you can give the baby 0.6 ml of Fenistil per day.
- How many drops will it be? 1 milliliter of liquid is equal to 20 drops - 0.6 × 20 = 12 drops per day.
- The daily dose should be divided into 3 doses - 12÷3=4.
- A single dose of Fenistil for a child weighing 6 kg is 4 drops.
Instructions for use contain dosage limits for children from 1 month to a year:
- single dose – 3-10 drops;
- daily – 10-30 drops.
Children should be given drops dissolved in a small amount of breast milk, or together with formula. For older children, the medicine can be given from a spoon before meals. It has a sweet taste, so the baby will not refuse it. The drug must not be heated.
Who can take Fenistil and who can’t?
Fenistil is popular among pediatricians and allergists-dermatologists, and is widely used in the treatment of various types of diathesis. It is also prescribed when diathesis progresses to the following pathologies:
- eczema;
- hives;
- food and drug allergies;
- atopic and allergic dermatitis.
Fenistil gel can also be applied to minor burns received in the sun or at home. A strict contraindication to the use of this drug in any form is intolerance to dimethindene maleate. If the patient has allergic reactions to any medications, before using each form of Fenistil, you should carefully study its composition, including auxiliary components.
Contraindications to the use of Fenistil are each of the following diseases:
- angle-closure glaucoma;
- benign formation in the prostate gland;
- bronchial asthma.
In addition, the use of Fenistil is not recommended at certain points in life:
- first three months of pregnancy;
- breastfeeding period;
- children up to 1 month.
This drug is prescribed with caution to premature babies and those with epilepsy.
Is Fenistil approved for use in newborns and children?
During the period from 1 month to 1 year, this drug should be used with caution, as it has a sedative effect, which in exceptional cases can cause apnea - stopping breathing during sleep.
Nuance! In some cases, Fenistil gel is prescribed earlier, but its use should only be under the supervision of a doctor.
Young parents should remember that not every rash is a diathesis. You should not resort to using Fenistil for every redness and spot. In any case, it is important to first identify the cause of their occurrence and eliminate it, not the symptoms.
Application of the gel
Gel "Fenistil" is used externally only. It must be applied in a thin layer to areas with an itchy rash. An adult's hands should be clean, with short nails. Regularity of use – 2-4 times a day. For babies under one year old, it is not recommended to lubricate large areas of the body, especially if they have ulcerations.
Baby skin absorbs any product very well. Therefore, during diathesis, you should not generously lubricate the affected areas or do it too often. The desire to alleviate the baby’s condition can lead to intoxication of the body, because the active substance of the gel easily penetrates the blood.
The average course of treatment with gel and drops is 7-10 days, but the exact duration is determined by the doctor, based on the child’s condition. Under the supervision of a physician, these dosage forms can be used simultaneously.
