November 20, 2008
Psoriasis and Your child
There are some 20,000 children diagnosed annually with chicken pox spots that are actually spots of psoriasis. Upper respiratory infections can precede these spots of psoriasis and catch parents unaware and even some doctors too. Psoriasis is non-contagious legions that can appear on most any body part including nails, and scalp. These lesions can be itchy and painful. They can also look unsightly. Most kids are embarrassed to be seen with the psoriasis lesions. When in the severe form, they can even be disabling.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition. In other words it will be with the child for a lifetime. There is no cure for psoriasis. There are however ways to make the symptoms more bearable.
Your child may, or may not go into a state of remission. Each child will have his or her own set of symptoms and triggers that initiate flare-ups.
Guttate is the type of psoriasis that most often occurs in children. Lesions from guttate are most often seen on the limbs (arms and legs), scalp and trunk areas.
Kids can have much the same triggers for their psoriasis that adults do and the triggers include: having a strep infection, dealing with stress, or having skin injuries.
Teaching kids to not pick at the scabs is very essential.
It is generally accepted in the medical community and among experts that there is a heritary connection between individuals in a family unit and the occurrence of psoriasis.
The statistics show that one out of every 40 individuals will contract psoriasis and in that number 10% to 15% of them will have first had signs of the disease before they turned 10 years of age.
The usual treatment for children like it is for adults is to treat with topical steroid creams.
Drugs specifically for children have not been available. Because of this children are normally treated with adult drugs.
It is possible for children to have the severe and disabling type of psoriasis and if they do they are treated with ultraviolet light therapy or other systemic treatments such as acitretin, cyclosporine and also methotrexate.
Children associate much of who they are at such a young age with the emotional aspects of dealing with other social aspects of school.
Some individuals with psoriasis are able to discuss the chronic disease openly with their peers. It would be normal for children to feel sadness, anxiety, and fear.
How he/she handles the social aspects of the disease will help to steer the child through the rough times. The impact of the psoriasis at school may exclude the child form fun after school activities.
Your child may have a difficult time coping with the disease. The emotional challenges of having psoriasis.
The best thing a child can do to help him/herself is to try and isolate what causes symptoms for himself/herself and reading up on all Websites that discuss different treatment options. Understanding not only the triggers, options and course of actions will help you to make good decisions. Educating the adults and children in your family regarding the signs and symptoms and how to help alleviate symptoms will help them to feel better about their psoriasis.
Leave a Comment or Ask a Question