According to a study by Assistant Professor Jochen Schmitt of Dresden University Hospital and Dr. Christian Apfelbacher of Heidelberg University Hospital and Dr. Joachim Heinrich of the Institute of Epidemiology of Helmholtz Zentrum Minchen, children who had eczema in the first two years of their life were much more likely to suffer from emotional problems around the age of 10. However, it’s unclear from the study if it’s the actual skin rash that is causing the psychological abnormalities or if it’s the secondary symptoms that cause such a traumatic effect on children’s mind.
Secondary Effects of Eczema and Psychological Disorders in Children
Children who experience eczema have an increased risk for allergies such as hay fever and asthma. They are also more likely to have sleep disorders.
These conditions can cause children to feel stressed and that could be the real reason why they are experiencing psychological problems later on in childhood. Not sleeping enough with a sleeping disorder can cause someone to feel anxious and depressed. Suffering from chronic allergies can depress someone when they can’t do certain things or partake in activities that others can easily without suffering from an allergic reaction.
So while eczema may not be the direct cause of mental health problems in children, it may have some influence in the overall development of these problems. There needs to be further research in this area for a direct correlation between eczema and psychological problems among children.
Photo:Pink Sherbet Photography
September 12th, 2010 at 10:58 am
mental health should always be monitored closely in the same way we monitor the health of our body