Burden and characteristics of skin pain among children with atopic dermatitis

Burden of atopic dermatitis in paediatric patients: an international cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Few large-scale international studies have broadly characterized the burden of atopic dermatitis (AD) across age groups among children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

To better characterize the AD burden in paediatric patients by disease severity.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, web-based survey of paediatric patients (6 months to < 18 years old) was conducted in 18 countries representing North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East/Eurasia and East Asia. Patients with diagnosed AD were identified based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria and self-/parent-report of ever being told by a physician that they or their child had eczema. AD severity was assessed using the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure and Patient Global Assessment. Outcomes included measures of itch, skin pain, sleep, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), missed school days and atopic comorbidities.

RESULTS

The survey included 1489 children aged 6 months to < 6 years; 2898 children aged 6 to < 12 years; and 3078 adolescents aged 12 to < 18 years diagnosed with AD. Although the burden of mild AD was substantial, paediatric patients with moderate or severe AD had more itch, skin pain, sleep problems and impaired HRQoL, and missed more school days relative to those with mild AD; greater burden was observed among those with severe relative to moderate AD. At least one atopic comorbidity was present in 92.5% of all respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the burden of AD in paediatric patients, especially those with moderate-to-severe disease, and suggest the need for assessments that include the impact of AD on function and daily life.

Paediatric Atopic Dermatitis: The Unexpected Impact on Life with a Specific Look at the Molecular Level

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a condition with a multifactorial aetiology that affects the skin. It most often begins at preschool age and involves the skin. The disease's main symptom is intense itching, which occurs especially at night and affects the child's sleep, negatively impacting the quality of life of affected children and, consequently, their families. The difficulty in resting during the night leads to many problems during the day, particularly behavioural disorders and difficulties in paying attention at school, which results in learning impairment. The unexpected symptoms of AD are caused by pathophysiological processes that include many molecular pathways and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-31, IL-1, IL-2, TNF-a, and IL-6. Drawing on a comprehensive review of the literature in PubMed/MedLine, our review offers an in-depth exploration of both the psychosocial impacts of AD and the molecular processes that contribute to this disorder.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) guidelines: 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters GRADE- and Institute of Medicine-based recommendations

BACKGROUND

Guidance addressing atopic dermatitis (AD) management, last issued in 2012 by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force, requires updating as a result of new treatments and improved guideline and evidence synthesis methodology.

OBJECTIVE

To produce evidence-based guidelines that support patients, clinicians, and other decision-makers in the optimal treatment of AD.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary guideline panel consisting of patients and caregivers, AD experts (dermatology and allergy/immunology), primary care practitioners (family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine), and allied health professionals (psychology, pharmacy, nursing) convened, prioritized equity, diversity, and inclusiveness, and implemented management strategies to minimize influence of conflicts of interest. The Evidence in Allergy Group supported guideline development by performing systematic evidence reviews, facilitating guideline processes, and holding focus groups with patient and family partners. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach informed rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations. Evidence-to-decision frameworks, subjected to public comment, translated evidence to recommendations using trustworthy guideline principles.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 25 recommendations to gain and maintain control of AD for patients with mild, moderate, and severe AD. The eAppendix provides practical information and implementation considerations in 1-2 page patient-friendly handouts.

CONCLUSION

These evidence-based recommendations address optimal use of (1) topical treatments (barrier moisturization devices, corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors [crisaborole], topical JAK inhibitors, occlusive [wet wrap] therapy, adjunctive antimicrobials, application frequency, maintenance therapy), (2) dilute bleach baths, (3) dietary avoidance/elimination, (4) allergen immunotherapy, and (5) systemic treatments (biologics/monoclonal antibodies, small molecule immunosuppressants [cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, JAK inhibitors], and systemic corticosteroids) and UV phototherapy (light therapy).

Mental health comorbidity in youth with atopic dermatitis: A narrative review of possible mechanisms

The presence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in youth has been linked to a variety of mental health concerns including disruptive behavior, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and diagnoses of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. However, the factors accounting for these relationships are not well understood. The current review summarizes possible mechanisms identified in previous research and highlights areas for future investigation. Among the primary mechanisms studied to date, child sleep is the only factor that has been characterized in relative detail, with findings generally supporting the mediating role of sleep problems in the relationship between AD and psychological symptoms. There is substantial evidence suggesting a negative impact of child AD on parent mental health and the impact of parent mental health on child psychological functioning, although the latter has not been assessed specifically in populations of children with AD. There is also preliminary support for other mechanisms, including pruritus and pain, atopic comorbidities, social functioning, and systemic antihistamine use, in the development of mental health concerns in pediatric AD. Furthermore, research suggests the presence of bidirectional relationships between AD and psychological functioning via inflammatory responses to stress and impaired treatment adherence. Overall, significant additional research is needed to better characterize the nature and magnitude of the relationships among these multiple mechanisms and various psychosocial outcomes. Nevertheless, the findings to date support routine screening of psychological health in patients with AD as well as screening for potential risk factors, which may also serve as targets of therapeutic intervention.

Disorders in Children

Pediatric dermatoses can present at birth or develop over time. When managing dermatology conditions in children, caregiver involvement is important. Patients may have lesions that need to be monitored or need assistance with therapeutic administration. The following section provides a subset of pediatric dermatoses and notable points for presentation in skin of color patients. Providers need to be able to recognize dermatology conditions in patients of varying skin tones and provide therapies that address the condition and any associated pigmentary alterations.