Eczema or dermatitis is a kind of bacterial infection in the skin, affecting children mostly. Most children having eczema have a history of allergies in their families, or have asthma, hay fever etc. This painful infection is often traumatic for young children and needs immediate attention of the medical practitioner.
Types of Eczema In Children
Broadly speaking, eczema may be atopic or contact. Atopic eczema being more widespread shows in a child soon after birth. Although many grow out of it during teens, a few still stand the risk of suffering in adulthood. Children with a history of atopic eczema in the family are more prone to contact eczema.
Contact eczema, on the other hand, distresses grown-ups and is caused by skin irritants like detergent powders, soaps, colognes, chemicals etc. It is of two kinds – allergic and irritant, the former due to delayed reaction to allergy-causing substances and the latter being an immediate reaction to solvents. Contact eczema gets checked if the irritant is avoided.
The eczema that shows on palms, soles and sides of fingers and toes is known as Dyshidrosis. Venous Eczema affects people with weakened circulation, varicose veins and edema. Again, Xerotic Eczema makes the skin look like a dried-up riverbed and is usually seasonal. It affects the older people and newborns have it due to the lack of biotin. Seborrhea, a serious type of dandruff affecting the scalp and eyelashes and Discoid, causing round sections of eczema on the body, are rare types of eczemas.
Venous Eczema, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, Neurodermatitis and Autoeczematization are the other rare eczemas. Remember, eczema may sometimes be an allergic reaction to dust settled in carpets and the likes.
Causes of Eczema In Children
Apparently, eczema is caused by the hyper-reaction within the immunity cells in anyone’s system and his susceptibility to allergies. It is often hereditary. Food habits, clothing, exposure to strong smells and specified items, infection with herpes simplex virus, anxiety and tension, menstruation in women etc., trigger eczemas. Bacterial infection in the affected parts aggravates the symptoms and increases sufferance.
Symptoms of Eczema In Children
The symptoms of eczema are the dry red patches of rashes with skin edema and a pricking sensation, and a skin condition that shows layering, peels, blisters and discoloration. The affected portion secretes a fluid and may even bleed when scratched. Young children stand the risk of having their face, cheeks, scalp, forearms and knees affected. Among the older ones, the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles are usually affected by this disease.
Treatment Of Eczema In Children
Eczema in children requires immediate attention and proper care. As all remedies aim at the control of the noticeable symptoms, normally the doctor examines the patient on the basis of traces of the ailment in the family, his lifestyle, food habit, tendency to allergies etc., and prescribes some routine blood tests that could include the Radioallergosorbent Test, Paper Radioimmunosorbent Test or the more common Patch Test.
Based on the findings, the patient is treated with antibiotics, glucocorticoid ointments, topical immunomodulators like pimecrolimus and tacrolimus, or even ultraviolet light therapy. The use of oils and creams in water during a bath for softening the skin and reducing the itching may be recommended.
Other likely suggestions are the use of anti-stamines, cotton clothing and gloves for reducing the tendencies to scratch and for checking bacterial infection. To have the symptoms under control, the doctor recommends the regular moistening of the skin.
Alternative medication in the form of traditional herbal treatment may be tried effectively. Behavioural therapy requires the patient to join a therapy program that aims at reversing common habits aggravating the symptoms.
Advices
Consciously avoid scratching since the bacteria get more space to increase the irritation.
Put on cotton wears.
Stay relaxed.
Avoid irritants, including soaps and harsh detergents. Soaps with an oil base, goat milk soap and unscented soap could be used.
Moisten the affected portion regularly with emollient creams, steroid creams.
Regulate your diet and increase the intake of Vitamins E and C, cod liver oil, evening primrose oil and tea-tree oil. Avoid allergic food.
Breastfeed the affected child as it is a good preventive against atopic eczema.
Follow your doctor’s medication and advices.
