Eczema,Allergies andDay-to-Day Care

Eczema

What is Eczema?

Dry, itchy skin condition

Commonly affects children

Link with asthma and hayfever

Can be mild, moderate or severe

What Does It Look Like? Red

Dry

Patches, especially folds of elbows and knees

What Does it Feel Like?

Itchy!!

Can be sore

Can disturb sleep

How Can We Treat It?

Emollients (thick moisturisers) To skin In the bath Instead of soap

Steroid cream For flare ups

“Sedating” anti-histamines Useful for bedtime, aids sleep

Wet Wraps Comfortable bandages for severe eczema

Emollients

The cornerstone of eczema management

Lock moisture in – they do NOT replace it

Use often (several times a day) and copiously, all over. You cannot “overdose”! Any time the skin looks dry or is becoming itchy

Apply gently, quickly, down the direction of hair growth

Bath Emollients

Liquid to add to bath Turns water “milky”

Soak for 10-15mins – warm NOT hot water

Use emollient cream if “soap” needed

Towel down – pat don’t rub

Lots of emollients whilst skin still slightly damp

Steroid Creams

For flare ups Only to the areas that are red and sore

Thinly, sparingly

Lots of worry about “dangers” BUT rare to get side effects unless used

inappropriately for long periods of time

Wet Wraps

Not at all common

Applied over emollients One wet layer (soaked in cool water +/-bath

emollient) Cover with dry layer

The kids or experienced volunteers will teach you how!

General Care

Make sure they’ve got their emollient with them

Apply at first sign of itchiness

DON’T SAY “DON’T SCRATCH” please!! Gentle distraction e.g. game, or help them

apply more emollient

Emollient prior to swimming Rinse in shower soon after, and more emollient!

Allergies &

Anaphylaxis

DON’T PANIC!

Allergy = body’s protest against something it doesn’t like

Anaphylaxis = the most panicked about The LEAST likely to happen

Mild allergic reactions more common

May be known triggers – be AWARE of your children’s allergies

Common Triggers

Bee/wasp stings

Latex

Peanuts, Shellfish, other foodstuffs

Medications

Mild Reactions

Itching / mild rash

Tingling

Stomach ache

PIRITON +/- Blue inhaler if needed Then observe

More Severe Reactions

Difficulty breathing / wheezing

Swelling (oedema) especially of lips, mouth

Severe rash – “hives”/ “nettle rash”

Itching of tongue, palate

Palpitations

Diarrhoea, vomiting

Feeling faint/dizzy

Managing Severe Reactions Do It If In Doubt

999

Epipen if severe symptoms present

Piriton

Blue inhaler if needed

Repeat epipen after 5 mins if not improving

SHARPS! (Swanky new epipen containers take care of this for you)

Playtime!

Play with the dummy epipens

Ask questions

Feel confident/comfortable about it all!

Day-to-Day Care

In Loco Parentis

All the usual stuff – washing, dressing, teeth, toileting Bathroom queues, negotiations, bribing…(!!)

Bedroom Medication Ticksheets Your guide for helping them with meds Must be ticked off each day, am & pm Note peak flow (if child does this) & use of blue

inhaler Please tell a health pro if peak flow is dropping

Ask if you don’t know

Have Fun!