ATOPIC ECZEMA - ITS IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND FINANCIAL COST

Objective-To evaluate the impact of childhood atopic eczema on familie s and assess the personal financial cost of its management. Design-Cro ss sectional survey. Setting-Paediatric dermatology and paediatric dia betology outpatient clinics. Patients-Parents of 48 randomly selected children with atopic eczema and 46 with insulin dependent diabetes mel litus. Main outcome measures-The impact on family score, the reported cost of relevant medical treatments, medical consultations, relevant h ospitalisation, and income loss. Results-Families of children with mod erate or severe atopic eczema had a significantly higher impact on fam ily score than families of diabetic children. A conservative estimate of the annual personal financial cost of managing mild, moderate, and severe eczema was Aus$330, 818, and 1255, respectively. The financial cost to the community for the management of atopic eczema in the study groups was greater. The personal financial cost of managing eczema wa s greater than for asthma. Conclusion-Childhood atopic eczema has a pr ofound impact on the social, personal, emotional, and financial perspe ctives of families.