Study Finds Eczema Cases Increasing Among Children
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Eczema is a condition that causes an individual’s skin to become dry, itchy and cracked; in some cases, skin can even ooze. Some types of eczema, such as dyshidrotic eczema, can cause blisters. Data from the National Eczema Association indicates more than 31 million individuals in the U.S. suffer from eczema.
While it can flare up at any age, this chronic skin condition is common in young children. It is estimated that about 9.6 million children below 18 years of age suffer from atopic dermatitis. Experts believe that this skin condition is more prevalent in higher-income areas, which are more likely to have cleaner environments and children in these areas are more likely to be vaccinated and have access to antibiotics. These factors may make individuals more vulnerable to eczema.
The treatment of eczema is usually dependent on an individual’s symptoms, with some experiencing flare-ups throughout their lives. Doctors often prescribe cream medications to manage eczema, with sufferers being encouraged to use emollients, minimize scratching and avoid using harsh products on their skin.
New research has looked into the global severity and prevalence of eczema. Researchers in this study used the data from the adolescent and child participants in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. The researchers found that roughly 6% of adolescents and children had symptoms of eczema, noting that this figure had increased significantly over the last 10 years.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology believes that the increase in cases of eczema may be because of various factors, including exposure to allergens such as dust mites, as well as harsh soaps, lotions, cosmetics and detergents, among other factors. Experts believe that the skin condition can also be triggered by harsh weather, especially when dry and cold conditions.
In their report, the researchers stated that more studies evaluating why eczema prevalence was increasing in certain geographical locations should be a priority, especially from a health services and disease burden perspective.
The study had some limitations, including the fact that majority of the participants included in the study were from urban areas. This hindered the researchers from demonstrating an international community. The research also used self-reporting results from participants and parents, which reduced accuracy.
In their conclusion, researchers stated that international research efforts were required to address the burden associated with eczema with continued global efforts to determine strategies to prevent eczema onset and better manage the condition’s impact on people, their families and health services.
The study’s findings were reported in “Clinical & Experimental Allergy.”
These rising cases of eczema have prompted entities such as Jupiter Wellness Inc. (NASDAQ: JUPW) to invest in developing new treatments for this condition so that flare-ups don’t overly impact a patient’s quality of life.
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