Australian-first eczema support program launches at PCH to fast-track children with the itchy condition

Perth Children’s Hospital will be the first to launch a nation-wide program that will fast-track expert advice to families of children with eczema in a bid to stop kids suffering from the debilitating condition. Eczema Connect, a national pilot program developed by Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, launches on Tuesday at PCH, which is the first Australian hospital to offer the initiative. The free service will provide parents with evidence-based information and practical tools to help them manage their child’s eczema, as they wait to see a dermatologist or allergy specialist. Wait times for dermatology and allergy appointments have blown out to more than six months in WA, meaning children with eczema are currently suffering with the condition for longer than they should be. “Across Australia, demand for dermatologists and allergy specialists has seen wait times blowout,” Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chief executive Maria Said explained. For Rachel, whose two-year-old Ivy has been suffering from extreme eczema flare ups since she was 16 months old, the condition impacted every aspect of their lives. “We had to have socks on her hands all the time. She was wearing them to bed and she was eating with them on,” she said. “If we didn’t have the socks on she would just scratch until she was bleeding. “It was really hard in everyday life with those flare ups. We couldn’t go to the beach, we couldn’t go do those things that other kids do day to day.” After receiving advice from a PCH dermatology nurse, Ivy’s extreme eczema flare up improved within two weeks. “We were seeing dermatologists, pharmacists and doctors and there was just not the right education out there to help us actually get on top of the eczema,” Rachel said. “We had a phone consult and after that she has changed and her eczema has been perfect. “Having the education around eczema earlier would have stopped the bleeding at night time, the constant scratches, and the antibiotics she had to go one because of infections from eczema.” Parents referred to the service will be given fact sheets, videos and seminars with advice from eczema nurses, allergy specialists, and dermatologists. The videos include step-by-step instructions on applying steroid cream, bleach baths, and wet dressings. Those waiting to see a specialist also have access to a support line so they can speak directly with a qualified allergy educator. The Eczema Connect pilot will also be the focus of a research trial in collaboration with the University of Western Australia to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. UWA allergy specialist and professor Michaela Lucas said early, credible information and support was crucial. “We are excited to be trialling a program that could successfully bridge the gap and empower parents with credible information right from the start,” she said. “When treated and managed correctly eczema can clear up in a matter of weeks, helping to reduce suffering from relentless itchiness and inflammation.”