Eczema in Early Childhood May Lead to Psychological Problems

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Did you know , Skin Allergies on March 5, 2010

Credit: Heimholtz Zentrum

I'm a bit concerned after reading a recent study (read abstract here) saying that children who had eczema during the first two years of life were more likely to have psychological abnormalities and emotional problems later in life. Furthermore, the study suggested that children whose eczema persisted beyond the first two years of life were more likely to have mental health problems than children who had eczema only in infancy.

Within the framework of the GINIplus study, scientists tracked the family history of the children, collected data on their physical health and emotional condition at age 10 years and gathered information on their daily lives. Questions were asked about the course of disease - also in early childhood - with special focus on diseases such as eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, stress tolerance and behavioral abnormalities.

Eczema is a non-infectious skin disease characterized by scaling itchy skin rashes. It is the most common skin disease in children and adolescents. Children who suffer from eczema are known to have an increased predisposition for hay fever and allergic asthma. Eczema symptoms are accompanied by a broad spectrum of secondary symptoms, such as sleep disorders.

My first born had skin asthma until he was about 4, and yes, we tried many OTC creams and cortisol-containing prescription drugs (topical) to manage it. A few years ago, we relocated to the tropics and amazingly, his skin problems drastically improved. He's had less than 5 bouts of skin rashes in the last 3 years! I dearly hope his earlier bouts of eczema hasn't marked him psychologically as the study above suggests!