Efficacy and problems associated with using a wet-wrap garment for children with severe atopic dermatitis.

Use of a wet wrap for short-term relief of itch in children with severe atopic dermatitis has been advocated but objective determination of its efficacy has been difficult and many issues associated with its use are yet to be defined. We tested a new garment for the wet-wrap procedure in six patients with atopic dermatitis and objectively determined whether a 3-day usage could indeed relieve the distressing symptom of itch using a wrist motion monitor. The garments were effective in the short-term improvement of itching, severity of atopic dermatitis and quality of life in these children.

Epidermolysis bullosa in three Chinese neonates.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is one of the rare blistering diseases that may present in the neonatal period. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptomatology, histopathology, electron microscopy and genetic studies. Age of onset, symptomatology and prognosis of the various subtypes are varied.

Steroid fears in children with eczema.

Background: Topical glucocorticoids (GCs) are the mainstay of treatment for eczema, but GC phobia and fears are very common among the parents of paediatric patients.

Aim: To survey the nature and extent of "fears" of GC use, and to evaluate if disease severity is associated with such fears.

Methods: Patients with eczema managed in the paediatric dermatology outpatient clinic of a university hospital were recruited in this survey.