Articles
 

A Tragic Case of Atopic Eczema: Malnutrition and Infections despite Multivitamins and Supplements

Abstract

Eczema is a common childhood  atopic  condition and treatment is with emollients,  topical corticosteroids and  avoidance of  possible  triggers. S.  aurues colonization is a common complication. During exacerbation,  intensification  of treatment  is needed  to relieve  the child from the miserable symptoms of pruritus  and  sleep  disturbance. Systemic antibiotics against S. aureus may be required.
We  report  an  infant  with  eczema  who  presented with a generalised rash, cardiac arrest and septic shock. Kwashiorkor-like protein energy malnutrition was noted presumably due to deviated dietary practice.
Childhood eczema is an eminently  treatable  atopic disease. Extreme alternative therapy seems not to be efficacious and may even be associated with grave sequelae.

1. Leung AK, Hon KL, Robson WL. Atopic dermatitis. Adv Pediatr 2007; 54:241-73.
2. Hon KL, Lam MC, Leung TF, Kam WY, Li MC, Ip M, et al. Clinical features associated with nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in Chinese children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2005; 34:602-5.
3. Hon KL, Leung AK, Kong AY, Leung TF, Ip M. Atopic dermatitis complicated by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. J Natl Med Assoc 2008;100:797-800.
4. Hon KL, So KW, Wong W, Cheung KL. Spot diagnosis: An ominous rash in a newborn. Ital J Pediatr. 2009;35:10.
5. Hussain SM, Luedtke GS, Baker CJ, Schlievert PM, Leggiadro RJ. Invasive group B streptococcal disease in children beyond early infancy. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1995;14:278-81.
6. Hon KL, Kam WY, Leung TF, Lam MC, Wong KY, Lee KC, et al. Steroid fears in children with eczema. Acta Paediatr 2006; 95:1451-5.
7. Hon KL, Leung TF, Kam WY, Lam MC, Fok TF, Ng PC.Dietary restriction and supplementation in children with atopic eczema. Clin Exp Dermatol 2006; 31:187-91.
8. Hon KL, Chan IH, Chow CM, Wang SS, Lam CW, Ng PC, et al. Specific IgE of common foods in Chinese children with eczema. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;22(1 Pt 1):50-3.
9. Hoare C, Li Wan PA, Williams H. Systematic review of treatments for atopic eczema. Health Technol Assessment 2000; 4:1-191.
10. Ciliberto H, Ciliberto M, Briend A, Ashorn P, Bier D, Manary M. Antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of kwashiorkor in Malawian children: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial. BMJ 2005; 330:1109.
11. Liu T, Howard RM, Mancini AJ, Weston WL, Paller AS, Drolet BA, et al. Kwashiorkor in the United States: fad diets, perceived and true milk allergy, and nutritional ignorance. Arch Dermatol 2001; 137:630-6.
12. Chase HP, Kumar V, Caldwell RT, O'Brien D.Kwashiorkor in the United States. Pediatrics 1980;66:972-6.

Files
IssueVol 11, No 3 (2012) QRcode
SectionArticles
Keywords
Atopic Eczema Infection Malnutrtion Multivitamins Supplements

Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
1.
Hon KL, Nip SY, Cheung KL. A Tragic Case of Atopic Eczema: Malnutrition and Infections despite Multivitamins and Supplements. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1;11(3):267-270.