|
A common skin problem that occurs in children
is eczema, eczema refers to a number of different skin conditions which
all make the skin red and irritated with the main problem causing an intense
itching, If the child scratches then the small fluid filled, blisters
that occur from eczema will break and ooze fluid.
The most common cause of eczema is atopic dermatitis which is sometimes
given the name infantile eczema, although children and indeed adults can
be affected by this condition. Atopic means oversensitivity to allergens
of the environment and can be pollen, dust mite, mold, animal dander or
certain foods.
It is thought that genes may play a role in eczema, as children who are
prone to it are known to have parents who suffer from hay fever, asthma
and other allergies. It is also thought that those children who have eczema
will go on to develop hay fever or asthma themselves at some point in
their life.
What are the signs and symptoms of eczema?
Signs and symptoms of eczema will vary from child to child and also on
the age of the child, common signs that show your child has eczema are
itchy, dry, red skin which can occur on the cheeks, forehead and scalp.
This rash can spread to the arms, legs, hands and trunk and red, crusted
or open lesions can form on any area that is affected by eczema and may
ooze fluid. In a child over the age of 5, the rash will usually be less
oozy than when the eczema first began and will tend to show up at some
times more than others, and then recede for a while.
As the skin is extremely itchy, children will find it very hard to resist
scratching the infected areas, however scratching only makes the condition
worse and should be avoided where possible. In most cases the eczema clears
up on its own accord for many months and then may reappear again, overall
the condition clears up around the age of 5 or 6 but sometimes may persist
in spurts throughout adolescence and sometimes even into early adulthood.
Can eczema be prevented?
Although there is no prevention of eczema, as scientists believe that
it is inherited, it is thought that there are specific triggers which
can aggravate the condition, possible triggers are
* Pollen
* Mold
* Dust
* Animal dander
* Very dry winter air with very little moisture
* Very dry skin
* Certain soaps and deodorants
* Fabrics such as wool or very coarse materials
* Certain skin care products
* Smoke from tobacco
* Certain foods
* Stress
* Very hot weather
* Sweating
How is the condition diagnosed?
There is no test specifically used to diagnose eczema, with the child's
medical history and family background being one of the most useful methods
of diagnosis. Your Doctor will need your help to identify any factors
which could trigger the attacks, for example if you have started to use
a different soap or washing powder on your child's clothes.
Once these has been established the Doctor will examine your child's rash
and surrounding area in order to rule out any other conditions which can
cause a similar rash. Once your Doctor has made a diagnosis then they
may suggest your child sees a dermatologist, this of course will depend
on the severity of the condition.
A steroid cream is usually the correct treatment for eczema along with
antihistamines to control the itching and in the case of a secondary infection
antibiotics may also be given.
|
 
|
