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Abstract: The child had peeling and dry lips several times in the past year, and despite the effect of applying ointment, the symptoms would appear again soon after stopping, and was diagnosed as lip infection. After inquiry, we learned that the child had the habit of licking her lips and biting the skin of her mouth, and that she was a partial and picky eater.
Basic information】Female, 10 years old
Disease Type】Chronic labyrinthitis
Hospital】The First Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Date of consultation】May, 2020
Treatment plan】Oral medication (vitamin AD soft capsule) + topical medication (erythromycin ointment, medical glycerin) + dietary habit improvement
Treatment period】2 weeks of medication, regular follow-up
Treatment effect】The child’s dry and peeling lips improved, the frequency of recurrence decreased, and the disease was controlled.
I. Initial consultation
The child was only 10 years old and came to the clinic because of recurrent dry and cracked lips and peeling skin. The child’s parents reported that every 1-2 weeks for the last year or so, the child would have symptoms of dry, cracked and peeling lips. The parents also applied a “cosmetic” product for the child, which was said to be a treatment for lip infection, and it was effective at that time, but not long after stopping, the child’s symptoms recurred.
Through communication with the child’s parents, we learned that the child is usually a picky eater, does not like to eat vegetables, loves to eat snacks, often does not seriously eat regular meals, but no other physical diseases. The child often likes to lick his lips, and when his lips are peeling, he likes to bite them off or tear them off with his hands. Based on the child’s clinical presentation and past medical history, the child was diagnosed with chronic labyrinthitis.
Second, the treatment process
After clarifying the cause of the child’s disease, I formulated a treatment plan for the child, taking into account the specific situation of the child. Erythromycin ointment was given, although the drug tasted bitter, it could inhibit the child from licking his lips.
In addition to the drug treatment plan, the parents of the child were also educated about lip infection, and were informed that chronic lip infection is prone to recurrence and difficult to cure, and that its occurrence is related to the bad habit of licking and biting the lips and unreasonable diet. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the bad habits of the child while using medicine, which will help the development of the child’s condition, although it cannot guarantee complete recovery.
Treatment effect
After 1 week of medication, the child’s dry and peeling lips had improved significantly, so we suspended erythromycin ointment and continued to use vitamin AD soft capsules and medical glycerin for 1 week. After 3 months of treatment, we followed up with the child by telephone and the parents informed that the child’s symptoms had recurred once and were eliminated after the medication was administered again. Although not completely cured, the number of recurrences was significantly reduced compared to the previous 2-3 times per month. Since chronic labyrinthitis itself tends to be prolonged, the fact that the disease can be kept under control is also a relatively satisfactory treatment effect.
IV. Precautions
We are glad that the patient’s symptoms have improved after treatment. However, because chronic labyrinthitis in children requires long-term treatment, they need to maintain good habits for a long time in order to control the disease. In order to make the child’s recovery smoother, I specially advised the parents to help the child correct the bad habits. When the child licks and bites his lips, besides stopping it, they should also divert the child’s attention appropriately and make him stop the original action by diverting his attention. In addition, the child should also pay attention to a balanced diet in daily life, eating more vegetables and fruits from Xinxiang every day, as well as nuts, grains, meat, dairy products, soybean products and other foods should be taken into account. At the same time, the child also needs to gradually reduce the amount of snacks, and when he or she wants to eat snacks, he or she can use fruits, milk, cereals and other relatively healthy foods instead.
V. Personal insight
In this case, the child’s bad habits of partial eating, picky eating and licking and biting of lips were important causes of the lip infection, but fortunately, the child was corrected subsequently and her symptoms were relieved after improving the bad habits, which was also a great relief to me. I hope that the doctor and the child will work together in the treatment of chronic diseases, and I hope that the child will persist and cooperate. Many people are partial and picky eaters, and although not everyone may develop labyrinthitis as a result, it is certainly not good for health. In addition, while it is crucial to pay attention to eating more fresh vegetables on a daily basis, it is important not to fall into the misconception of eating only vegetables, as a balanced, low-salt, low-sugar diet is important for health.