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Ten-year prognosis for generalized infantile eczema
O Linna1, J Kokkonen, P Lahtela
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland.
Insights
Most children with infantile eczema see improvement, but many develop respiratory allergies like allergic rhinitis and asthma. Skin tests confirm allergies in those with respiratory conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Generalized infantile eczema is a common childhood condition.
- Long-term outcomes and associated comorbidities require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term dermatological status of children with generalized infantile eczema.
- To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in this cohort.
- To investigate the relationship between eczema, respiratory allergies, and allergen sensitization.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study re-examining 40 children at 11-13 years of age.
- Clinical assessment of eczema severity.
- Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and asthma through clinical evaluation.
- Allergen skin prick testing with common inhalant and food allergens.
Main Results:
- Eczema resolved in 18% and improved in 65% of children.
- High prevalence of allergic rhinitis (78%) and asthma (53%) was observed.
- Children with allergic rhinitis/asthma showed significantly higher positive skin test reactions (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Generalized infantile eczema often improves by adolescence.
- There is a significant risk of developing concomitant respiratory allergies, specifically allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Allergen sensitization is strongly associated with the presence of respiratory allergies in this cohort.
Abstract:
Forty children treated in our hospital for generalized infantile eczema were re-examined at 11-13 years of age. In 7 (18%) children the eczema had disappeared and in 26 (65%) it had become less severe. Unrelated to dermatological status or gender, allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 31 (78%) and asthma in 21 (53%) children. Only 8 children continued without either of these two conditions. All 32 children with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma showed at least one positive skin test reaction in a test panel of 11 common inhalant and food allergens compared with only 4 of 8 children without either allergic rhinitis or asthma (p < 0.001). Our results showed an improvement of dermatological status in most children with generalized infantile eczema but there was a high risk of a concomitant respiratory allergy and development of allergic rhinitis or asthma.