(Dermatitis)
Acute or chronic superficial inflammation of the skin
Cause
- Allergic dermatitis: reaction to food, chemicals, plants, jewellery or other substances
- Atopic dermatitis: unknown cause
Clinical features
- Vesicles (acute stage)
- Itchy rash with dry rough scaly skin
- Oozing due to secondary bacterial infection, causing regional lymphadenopathy and fever
Differential diagnosis
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Tinea corporis
MANAGEMENT
- Remove/avoid cause if known
- Apply betamethasone cream 0.1% every 12 hours for 2 weeks on affected parts, EXCEPT the
face and genital areas - If face or genitalia affected, apply hydrocortisone cream 1% every 12 hours for 2 weeks
- Give an antihistamine to relieve itching; chlorphenamine 4 mg every 8 hours
Child: 1-2 mg per dose - OR promethazine 25 mg at night; increase frequency to every 12 hours if necessary
Child: 1 mg/kg daily in 1-2 divided doses
If secondary bacterial infection
- Give a systemic antibiotic as in impetigo
Prevention
- Avoid contact with allergens