Can infantile eczema be contagious?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Pediatric eczema, which is not contagious, is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Most children develop this condition in infancy and it can persist into childhood and adulthood, indicating a significant hereditary component that can impact quality of life. Contact with a child who has eczema will not transmit the condition to another person or child, as it is non-infectious. The occurrence of eczema is not due to exposure to someone with the condition, but rather due to individual factors and is definitely unrelated to contagion. Although the exact mechanisms triggering eczema are still unclear, they are primarily associated with genetics, environmental immunity, and biological factors, not with infectious disease. Eczema is non-contagious.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Why does infantile eczema cause asthma?

There are many causes of infantile eczema, mainly indicating that the baby is experiencing allergic phenomena. These allergies can be due to internal factors or exposure to certain allergens or food allergies, all leading to eczema. Often, children with this type of eczema have an allergic constitution, making them prone to developing asthma. Therefore, when babies with asthma come for a consultation, it is routine to ask if they have a history of eczema, as having eczema often suggests an allergic constitution. It's not that infantile eczema causes asthma, but rather, babies with this constitution are prone to asthma attacks.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What age can infantile eczema recover?

Infant eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common skin disease in infants and children under three years of age. Most children’s eczema is controlled between the ages of one and one and a half years, but a few may continue to experience symptoms until after the age of three or even into childhood. In severe cases, the eczema can persist into adulthood. This depends on the child's own constitution and physical condition. For children who are inherently allergic, the duration of eczema can be particularly prolonged. If the eczema is due to an allergy to breast milk or formula, it can be well controlled once breastfeeding is stopped, or the formula is switched to a hypoallergenic hydrolyzed protein formula.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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When will baby eczema get better?

Infant eczema is a common skin disease in infants and young children, also known as atopic dermatitis or a hereditary skin disease, and is related to factors such as allergies and the environment. Most cases of infant eczema gradually improve between the ages of one and three. Some children with allergic constitutions may continue to experience eczema throughout childhood, adolescence, and even into adulthood. However, for the vast majority of children, eczema resolves by the age of one to three. Once eczema is diagnosed, it is essential to maintain skin hydration and avoid contact with allergens. When necessary, under the guidance of a doctor at a hospital, use of mild corticosteroid creams may be recommended to control the outbreaks of eczema.

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Can baby eczema cause fever?

Does infant eczema cause fever? Generally, this is not the case. Eczema is an allergic disease, characterized by the appearance of rashes on the skin due to an allergic reaction; fever typically does not occur in this case. If a baby develops a fever, the first consideration should be whether it is a cold. The second consideration should be whether there are any other infections present. Fever is generally considered to be caused by infectious factors, such as bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc. Therefore, it is essential to identify the pathogen and determine the cause of the fever.

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What should be done about infant eczema in the summer?

If the baby has eczema, the hot weather and increased sweating during summer can easily aggravate the condition. Therefore, it is essential to keep the child cool. If it is hot outside and the child is sweating profusely, try to keep the child indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned room. However, the air in air-conditioned rooms is quite dry, which can also worsen eczema. In such cases, it is necessary to use a humidifier, which can effectively prevent worsening of eczema due to heat and excessive sweating during summer. Additionally, even in summer, it is important to keep the child's skin moisturized. If the eczema is particularly severe, it is also necessary to use mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Children who are formula-fed should continue with amino acid-based formula and hydrolyzed protein formula.