BMJ  2005;331:497 (3 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7515.497

Primary care

10 minute consultation

Childhood eczema

¹ Tayside Centre for General Practice, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 4AD, ² Ninewells Hopsital, Dundee DD1 9SY

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

A 9 month old infant presents with his mother with a three month history of dry, red, itchy rash, initially on the face and extensor surfaces of limbs but now affecting flexor surfaces too.

What issues you should cover

• Is this really eczema? (see box).
  
• What impact are symptoms having?
  
• Is the baby distressed by itching? Is this keeping him awake, and what is the effect on the family?
  
• What have they tried?
  

Eczema is a visible, distressing condition, and parents may already have received an abundance of conflicting advice. They may have tried over the counter preparations, dietary exclusions, or alternative therapies.

What you should do

Confirm the diagnosis by thorough examination and exclude secondary infection.

Drug treatment—Prescribe an emollient in sufficient quantities. (Infants require 250 g per week, to be applied twice daily.) Advise that several different products may be tried before the most suitable is found. In general, greasy ointments are preferable for dry skin . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Fortnightly Review: Management of atopic eczema

P M McHenry, H C Williams, and E A Bingham
BMJ 1995 310: 843-847. [Abstract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Simon, C. (2008). Childhood atopic eczema. InnovAiT 1: 423-429 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

No evidence for the efficacy of antihistamines in childhood eczema

Martin H Goldman
bmj.com, 5 Sep 2005 [Full text]

A few cups of tea with honey

harold jitschak bueno de mesquita
bmj.com, 16 Sep 2005 [Full text]

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