Eczema / Food Allergy link

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mattguk1
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Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:53 pm
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by mattguk1 on Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:15 pm

Eczema / Food Allergy link

Hi there
Our 6 month old son had an allergic reation to egg at the weekend. We are currently weaning him and it was the first time he had had it, and he only ingested a tiny amount. (We are introducing 1 new food at a time so are virtually certain the cause is egg.) He came out in a rash on his wrists, neck and lower face and upper legs. It was very red and swollen and on his wrists were what looked like little blisters (smiliar to a nettle sting). I've attached a photograph.

We are wondering if this could be in any way linked to his eczema. He has had it since roughly 2 months and it is most severe on his cheeks, although he gets other patches on his head, arms, legs and chest. We have been trying to keep it under control since then with not much success. He was getting regular flare ups which would then get infected and he had 3 courses of antibiotics in a couple of months. We have used a number of different emollients and are now using Epaderm and Dermol regularly throughout the day. Currently we are having to use a 1% hydrocortisone twice a day on his cheeks to keep it relatively under control and Fucidin when it weeps to prevent infection. Even with this it still looks very red and inflamed constantly. He also has Piriton at night to try and prevent the itching.

We went to the GP today and were told there was no point in referring him for allergy testing and to simply avoid egg and to call an ambulance if he reacted again. We are worried about continuing to introduce new foods after his reaction at the weekend.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated
Many thanks
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Dr Joanna Lukawska
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 11:56 am
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by Dr Joanna Lukawska on Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:02 pm

Re: Eczema / Food Allergy link

Hi
You are doing the right thing by introducing one food at the time into your son’s diet. As he developed eczema at a very early age (before 3months) he is more likely (than children who do not get eczema) to suffer from food allergies in his childhood.
The reaction (urticarial skin rash) you have described is typical for immediate type of allergic reaction (in his case to egg). Your doctor is right that your son will need to avoid egg, however your son is also at an increased risk of other food allergies such as peanut etc. He therefore warrants a referral to Paediatric Allergy Clinic where he will be tested with egg and other possible food allergens. His eczema will also be reviewed and a dietician will help you manage his diet so that it is nutritionally complete.
All the best, Joanna
Dr Joanna Lukawska
Clinical Research Fellow & Specialist Registrar in Allergy

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Dr Anton Alexandroff
Posts: 435
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:11 am
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by Dr Anton Alexandroff on Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:17 pm

Re: Eczema / Food Allergy link

Hello

yes I completely agree with Dr Lukawaska. Specifically regarding eczema you are doing all the right things, and I would use more often epaderm when dermol. What are you washing your baby with? It is important to have a bath oil in the bath and dermol is a good substitue for soap. PLease remember that babies and children (and adults) with eczema should avoid soaps and showe gels. And of course many babies and children grow out of eczema with time.

with best wishes,

Dr Anton Alexandroff MRCP(UK) PhD FAAD FRSM
Consultant Dermatologist in Bedford and Leicester
www.alexandroff.org.uk
twitter: @bedford_skin_dr
Dr Anton Alexandroff
Consultant Dermatologist, Honorary Senior Lecturer & BSF spokesperson - FRCP, CCT (Derm), PhD, FRSM, FAAD

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... ndroff.php

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