With the start of a new year, most of us would wish for better health and less pervalene of diseases in the world. However, going by the latest research study tracking the number of cases of childhood eczema, this does not seem the situation. Not at least for allergic diseases.

Experts are warning policy makers that allergic disease might replace infectious disease as a major cause of ill health in cities undergoing rapid demographic changes in developing countries. The cause of eczema in these cities is blamed on environmental factors.

In developed countries like the UK and New Zealand, where childhood eczema was once pervalent, the number of [tag-tec]eczema[/tag-tec] cases in children are levelling off. However, it is those in the developing countries that are showing rapid increases in the number of children having skin problems. These countries include Mexico, Chile, Kenya, Algeria and 7 countries in Southeast Asia. Environmental factors are cited as the reason as it is highly unlikely that genetic factors would change in such a short time.

If environmental factors are said to be the cause of eczema, then this becomes a matter of public health. Severe [tag-dtec]eczema[/tag-dtec] can reduce the quality of life for patients suffering from constant itching and scratching. More needs to be done by the governments around before more of our children suffer.

Industrialization can bring in money and hope to developing countries but let’s not forget that there may be a social cost involved. I have no doubt that pollution to the air and/or to the water is a significant environmental factor that contributes to the cause of eczema.

News Source

Comments

Leave a Reply