Parents (with kids with eczema) under stress

HL123's Note: Based on my personal experience, most probably a person can cure or alleviate eczema by adopting a haelthy and nutritious vegetarian diet and stop eating all kinds of processed food. He should give himself at least 3 months to see any major improvements. [Ref: k2010-a-17-1939jk]

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The following article is from Mind Your Body of the Straits Times dated 13 January 2011, Thursday. Original title of the article is 'Parents under stress'

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Parents are bending under the strain of taking care of their kids who have eczema.

A study by the National University Hospital (NUH) in 2008 found that incurring high expenses was the No. 1 one problem, followed by fatigue and emotional distress.

The study, published in the International Journal Of Paediatric Allergy And Immunology, surveyed 104 mothers with a child suffering from eczema.

It found that mothers whose children have eczema were less well physically and mentally. They complained of pain and fatigue and reported feeling sad and nervous.

Madam Diana Ng, whose five-year-old son has eczema, is exhausted from waking up nightly to his crying and scratching.

Madam Ng, 36, has another son, three, and a daughter, seven, both of whom have mild eczema. She said the most stressful part about having a child with the condition is the feeling of not being able to help the child.

The assistant director of a marketing communications department had eczema into her teens herself.

The authors of the study, Professor Hugo Van Bever and Dr Roger Ho from NUH, said mothers need the support of not just doctors, but also professionals from different disciplines such as nurses, psychologists, counsellors and social workers.

Parents of children who have eczema can find help through support groups at NUH and the National Skin Centre. The skin centre has published a book which gives parents tips on how to live with eczema.

Madam Ng said she could not have coped with her son's condition without her husband. The couple take turns to look after their son at night. Madam Ng's mother helps in the day.

Her son has been on oral steroids for four months. His eczema began 'mysteriously' 21/2 years ago after he was hospitalised for high fever. Red, itchy patches can be found all over his body, including his scalp. His condition is so severe he draws stares from strangers.

Madam Ng is still trying to pin down the triggers of her son's eczema.

Traditional Chinese medicine doctors told her the antibiotics her son took in hospital made his immune system 'go haywire', while Western doctors pointed the finger at house dust mites.

Madam Ng thinks something else is at work.

She said: 'Every two weeks, I eliminate a certain food from his diet to find out if his eczema gets better." She has eliminated seafood, milk and cheese because his rash seemed to worsen after he ate them.

If nothing works, she is thinking of emigrating to a temperate country.

She said: 'When I took my son to Japan and Australia for holiday during winter, I found that the cooler climate there dried up his sores faster and he did not scratch so much.'

Those interested in joining support groups for parents with kids with eczema can contact:

* National Skin Centre
E-mail thomaseyun@nsc.gov.sg or call 6350-8558

* National University Singapore
E-mail enquiry@ican.com.sg, log onto www.ican.com.sg
or call 6772-5566.