Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
7327834 
Journal Article 
5: Allergy and the skin: Eczema nd chronic urticaria 
Katelaris, CH; Peake, JE 
2006 
1 
Medical Journal of Australia
ISSN: 0025-729X
EISSN: 1326-5377 
Australasian Medical Publishing Co. Ltd 
185 
9 
517-522 
English 
• Eczema is common, occurring in 15%-20% of infants and young children. For some infants it can be a severe chronic illness with a major impact on the child's general health and on the family. A minority of children will continue to have eczema as adults. • The exact cause of eczema is not clear, but precipitating or aggravating factors may include food allergens (most commonly, egg) or environmental allergens/ irritants, climatic conditions, stress and genetic predisposition. • Management of eczema consists of education; avoidance of triggers and allergens; liberal use of emollients or topical steroids to control inflammation; use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and treatment of infection if present. Treatment with systemic agents may be required in severe cases, but must be supervised by an immunologist. • Urticaria ("hives") may affect up to a quarter of people at some time in their lives. Acute urticaria is more common in children, while chronic urticaria is more common in adults. Chronic urticaria is not life-threatening, but the associated pruritus and unsightly weals can cause patients much distress and significantly affect their daily lives. • Angioedema coexists with urticaria in about 50% of patients. It typically affects the lips, eyelids, palms, soles and genitalia. • Management of urticaria is through education; avoidance of triggers and allergens (where relevant); use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and short-term use of corticosteroids when antihistamine therapy is ineffective. Referral is indicated for patients with resistant disease. 
acetylsalicylic acid; antihistaminic agent; calcineurin inhibitor; corticosteroid; cyclosporin A; dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase inhibitor; emollient agent; fish oil; food allergen; hydroxychloroquine; immunoglobulin; immunoglobulin E; immunoglobulin E antibody; immunoglobulin G antibody; immunosuppressive agent; irritant agent; leukotriene receptor blocking agent; montelukast; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; omega 3 fatty acid; pimecrolimus; primrose oil; probiotic agent; thyroxine; tsukubaenolide; allergic vasculitis; angioneurotic edema; article; autoimmunity; cancer risk; childhood disease; chronic urticaria; climate change; clinical feature; clinical trial; comorbidity; daily life activity; diet supplementation; disease association; disease exacerbation; disease resistance; disease severity; distress syndrome; drug efficacy; drug indication; drug safety; eczema; egg allergy; environmental factor; genetic predisposition; health education; Helicobacter infection; human; immunological tolerance; immunomodulation; kidney disease; low drug dose; medical specialist; nonhuman; papular urticaria; patient referral; plasmapheresis; prognosis; pruritus; recurrent disease; risk assessment; risk factor; short course therapy; skin allergy; skin burning sensation; skin cancer; skin examination; skin infection; skin manifestation; stress; treatment failure; ultraviolet B radiation; unspecified side effect