JEDDAH, 18 February 2004 — Sufferers from the skin condition eczema now have a new treatment option, following the announcement yesterday that a new non-steroid cream has been approved for use in the Kingdom. At a promotional event in Riyadh, Saudi doctors were introduced to the non-steroid treatment, which lessens the symptoms of eczema and reduces or even eliminates the need for topical steroids.
“Eczema can be a debilitating and painful condition that is particularly uncomfortable for children. Traditional anti-inflammatory treatments which have been around for many years have offered relief, but the steroid base has been a cause of concern for many parents,” said Professor Kristian Thestrup-Pedersen from the Department of Dermatology at Aarhus University of Denmark, who spoke at the event.
“Many physicians will welcome the fact that a new, non-steroid base treatment called Elidel (Pimecrolimus Cream) produced by Novartis is now available for eczema sufferers. Atopic eczema was mostly treated with steroid-based creams, but there are problems associated with their long-term use,” added Professor Pedersen.
The word eczema describes certain kinds of dermatitis (inflamed skin). Early eczema can be red, blistering, or oozing. Later on, eczema can become scaly, brownish, or thickened. Almost always, eczema itches. The word “atopic” refers to a tendency for excess inflammation in the skin, linings of the nose, and lungs. It often runs in families. These families may have allergies such as hay fever and asthma, but can also have sensitive skin and a history of eruptions called atopic dermatitis. While most people with atopic dermatitis have family members with similar problems, 20 percent of patients do not.
The disease can occur at any age but is most common in infants and young adults. The condition frequently improves in childhood or at least before age 25. About 50 percent of patients are affected throughout life, although not as severely as during early childhood.
“Research has shown that 72 percent of parents are concerned about using steroid-based anti-inflammatory creams on their children’s skin. A further 24 percent who have been prescribed steroid creams have not used them because of these fears,” said Dr. Abdullah Al-Eisa, a consultant dermatologist who spoke at the event in Riyadh.
Doctors at the conference expressed the hope that, by providing an alternative to steroid-based creams, it will be easier to encourage parents to ensure that their children complete their courses of treatment.
Eczema can have a serious impact on children’s lives, affecting their comfort, confidence and disrupting their sleep patterns. Parental support is a critical success factor for effective treatment of chronic diseases like atopic eczema in children, so the arrival of a non-steroid cream into the Kingdom is welcome,” said Dr. Abdulruhman Al-Frayh, professor of pediatrics at College of Medicine, King Saud University.
