Prevention is better than cure! Can we prevent eczema in babies at risk of cows milk protein allergy?

Abstract:

Cows milk protein allergy is a common cause of eczema in young babies and many attempts to prevent the development of eczema in atopic children have been made with little success to date. Eczema can be a difficult condition to control and requires a strong commitment from the parents to manage it successfully in some cases. In this presentation we explore the care of the child with cows milk protein allergy induced eczema, consider the preventative strategies that have been tried and look ahead to the possible methods of care for these children in the future.

Audience Take Away

• An understanding of the presentation of eczema in children with cows milk protein allergy
• An exploration of the attempts thus far to prevent eczema in babies at risk of cows milk protein allergy 
• An understanding of the challenges of caring for a child with food allergy induced eczema
• An insight into the use of creams and strategies to keep eczema under control
• Potential strategies for the future to prevent or control eczema

Biography:

Mrs. Heather Hanna studied at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London qualifying as a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse in 1989. She also qualified as an RN in the State of Washington, practicing there for 3 years in Infant Intensive Care Unit and then as a Research Nurse at Children’s Hospital, Seattle. Her career was mostly spent in Neonatal Intensive Care before she moved into Research at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington where she also obtained her MSc in Allergy (dist.) from Imperial College London, before her move into Medical Education, obtaining her MEd from Imperial College. She currently works as a Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow both with Undergraduates (in the Medical Ethics and Law Team) and Postgraduates (on the online Applied Paediatrics MSc course), both at Imperial College London.