head scratching until bleed and bad oder

[brownc]

What kind of infection it might be when a 4 year old scratches until it bleeds and have a bad oderto it.

[SassyLassie]

Hi,

Rather than guess, I would suggest taking him to a paediatrician who specializes in dermatology, you don't want these areas to get infected.

[Lisa_1961]

It could be either eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis. Take him to your Dr. Poor kid, it must be painful for him.

[3girl555]

If there is no lice then look for red skin covered with greasy-looking white or yellowish scales on the scalp that maybe easily removed. The itchiness and bad odor maybe caused by seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp. It can be treated with antifungal solutions, medicated shampoos, or corticosteroid. Best to have a doctor look at it though for correct diagnosis.

[jemma116]

When children scratch their head a lot, it can be a sign that there are head lice.

Check his head and the hair for any signs of nits and head lice.  
The nits look like little white grains of sugar stuck to the hair.
If you spot these you will need to get a nit comb that has very fine teeth to comb them out.  You will also need a special shampoo that you can purchase from the pharmacy or your doctor can prescribe.  Follow the instructions carefully.

Don't be alarmed if you find any nits or head lice.  This is very common when children start nursery or school.  

If you find that your 4 year old does have the head lice and nits, you will also need to examine the rest of the family and they may need to be treated at the same too.

Don't share combs or hair brushes.  Wash pillow cases and bedding.

Best wishes.