Pediatric Skin Eczema Pictures

When a child has been hospitalized, or diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, their already painful symptoms are often accompanied by anxiety, fear and loneliness. Which is why it makes sense that medical staff and pediatric healthcare facilities are looking to pediatric massage as treatment for some of these symptoms.

Research has shown that massage therapy can ease both physical symptoms as well as, emotional discomforts associated with pediatric medical conditions. Studies conducted by the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine show that massage can alleviate pain, anxiety and depression in pediatric clients. This therapeutic touch provides relaxation, comfort, reduction of stress hormones and relief from chronic conditions such as nausea, asthma, constipation and muscle aches.

Immediately after receiving massage, children with mild to moderate juvenile rheumatoid arthritis notice decreased anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol) levels. For young patients with Autism their aversion to touch decreases with massage, while their ability to focus increases. Pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis report feeling less anxious, and their ability to breathe and pulmonary functions improved.

For the massage therapist or healthcare professional considering pediatric massage, there are many considerations to prepare for providing age specific and development appropriate therapy. Additional professional training in pediatric massage is a necessity to feel confident working with children within medical facilities.

Some initial adaptations in your practice will become helpful, as you consider pursuing pediatric massage. The following five “P’s” are the keys to successful therapeutic massage sessions for both pediatric patient and practitioner.

Permission:

Permission should always be obtained from the child. Within the confines of hospital walls, it is not always possible for a child to agree to or refuse treatment. Empowering the child to have a voice in their medical care is possible through the use of massage therapy.

Before any touch therapy session with a pediatric patient, you must receive approval from their attending physician to ensure the child’s safety. Never perform massage therapy for a pediatric patient prior to receiving medical consent to do so. Some medical conditions carry contraindications to touch therapy. It is always best to receive medical advisement prior to each and every session, in case of any medical changes.

Pace:

Keep in mind that therapeutic touch sessions with children are often much shorter than those with adult clients. Even children who are healthy and well have much shorter attention spans and tolerance to therapeutic touch. As a therapist performing this type of treatment, you may only provide therapy for 15-20 minutes for younger patients. You may find that with some diagnosis, massage therapy may be recommended more than one time per day.

Pressure:

Pediatric massage is adapted for each individual client on a specific case by case basis. With each child it is important to build a rapport and trust in your professional relationship. Allow children to know they can direct the amount of pressure used during the massage. And also be prepared for the child to test out the control they have in directing the amount of pressure used during the session. The child must know they can trust you, so it is important that you listen to their requests. Once they trust you, they can relax and just feel the many benefits of the massage.

The very experience of having some control over their bodies becomes more important for children who are chronically ill or hospitalized. For these children, their day-to-day existent in the hospital is full of experiences of adults doing things to them, sometimes painful and uncomfortable, without their permission. It is very empowering for a child to have the ability to direct their therapeutic session, and at times even refuse it.

Positioning:

Some chronically ill children are confined to their hospital bed, while others may be in a wheelchair or have the ability to move from their bed with ease. It is important to be flexible and adapt to a changing variety of scenarios. Practice different positions including supported side lying, supine, and semi-reclined. These three positions seem to work very well, as you can keep eye contact and notice any facial gestures your young client may make which would alert you of any discomfort. It is always possible to provide massage in other positions such as sitting in a wheelchair, standing or lying down in a position most comfortable to them. The important key is placing your hands on the child in a way that they feel most comfortable. This will increase the therapeutic and relaxing benefits or your time together.

Parents:

To many pediatric patients and their families, pediatric massage is often seen as the medicine they need to heal, so it becomes more important to consider including parents in your sessions. You can’t provide therapy for the child everyday, so teaching the parents some techniques will be helpful in encouraging this healthy bond between parent and child. Additionally, many parents feel helpless within the medical system. Passing along something they can use will help them to feel calm and relaxed as well, which will translate to the young client.

As you begin your massage session it is helpful to remind the parent that your focus will be on the child during the session. Let them know you will be happy to answer any of their questions at the end of the therapeutic treatment. Show parents some simple techniques to help them relax, such as taking some deep breaths or rolling their shoulders. Explain the importance of relaxing prior to touching their child. Then show them some simple techniques they can use without harming their child.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Baby girl has severe multiple food allergy with symptoms of anaphylaxis but Drs say no to epipen!!?
Hi

From birth my daughter had (still has) severe allergic reactions to Cows’ milk protein, Soya, white fish, and rice (type 1 hypersensitivity) she is almost a year old and still is very sensitive, she reacts via skin contact as well as ingesting allergens. Her symptoms in the past included Wheezing, runny nose, coughing, difficulty in waking up and being responsive, drowsiness. Watery, itchy eyes. Hives/nettle rash covered from head to toe, eczema, swelling of the lips, eyes, and face. Also Diarrhoea, vomitting and perioal blisters.

Drs and dietitians said her allergies are not life threatening and Chlorphenamine (priton) is sufficient enough to mainstay her reactions and an epipen isn’t needed as her previous allergic history hasn’t involved circulatory collapse or airway problem. They also said in her consultant review that she has to have an anaphylaxis before they will issue epipen or refer her to allergy clinic.

I beg to differ as we had a huge fight in order for health professionals to take her allergic reactions seriously. By taking her to and from a&e, GP surgerys and baby clinics with pictures of her allergic reactions (as in the past they didn’t believe she suffered from severe allergies despite them seeing all the symptoms) they finally listened and we get paediatric and dietitian review appointments.

I am worried that if/when she accidentally comes into contact with allergens again (she has been VERY close) how are we going to manage her reactions??? surely the wheezing, coughing, drowsiness and not responding well are signs of anaphylaxis alongside the other symptoms. Why no epipen, or tests? is she too young?

Have you any advice? we have asked the health care proffesionals to look at this allergy clinic referral and epipen issue many times. Each dr we ask all say no! She now attends nursery and they try their very best to keep her safe- but accidents do happen!

By the way we live in the UK. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the advice

We have been to the clinic (for reviews) I question the no epipen statement and the no skin prick tests every time we go, they still say no as she has not had any breathing difficulties or circulatory collapse. I brought her in the a&e many occasions and she had wheezing alongside the other reaction symptoms but they didn’t take this seriously. They are not listening i dont know what to do next!
- ANSWER:
  is it possible for you to get the number of the allergy clinic and phone them up? they can be very helpful and can tell you what the best course of action is. if not i think you should just go to the clinic and demand that they thoroughly review your daughter as the next time she gets an allergic reaction it could be faltal and life threatening.
  normally an anaphylactic reaction consists of;
  generalised flushing of the skin
  nettle rash (hives) anywhere on the body
  sense of impending doom
  swelling of throat and mouth
  difficulty in swallowing or speaking
  alterations in heart rate
  severe asthma
  abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
  sudden feeling of weakness (drop in blood pressure)
  collapse and unconsciousness
  
  however your daughter does not have to suffer all of these symptoms.
  if the doctors do not do anything to help your daughter whether its providing an epipen or not i think you should perhaps threaten to take the matter to court as this is a young childs health and wellbeing at stake.
  
  medical ethics and the law generally hold that once a doctor-patient relationship is established, the patient has a right to expect a certain standard of care, and the doctor cannot terminate the relationship except in certain specific circumstances. as your daughter is under age and you are her legal guardian you have the right to question why your daughters doctor refuses to provide a solution to your daughters allergies and demand that your daughter get recieves all the tests and treatments that can be offered to her.
QUESTION:
Serious matter here! UV light treatment on eczema?
Hii x
Im 13 and suffer from eczema, it used to be all over my face, neck and chest but have been on steriod tablets for around 2 months. It has cleared up everywhere except my neck Very irritating! I saw a lady who has psoirsis over her entire body they recommended UV light treatment and it nearly cleared up completley after a few sessions. My Mum is going to ask my dermatologist if this is an option just for my neck. I know it carries risk (cancer??) But i am beside myself and so unhappy with my skin. Please if anyone has any information or actually had UV treatment themself it would help SO much! Thanks x
What the hell is ccaff on about

Thanks everyone its very helpful x
- ANSWER:
  I am so sorry for what you are going through. I do not know about the UV light treatment, but I do know about severe eczema. My son was born last year and after 3 weeks began to develop what turned out to be severe eczema. We went through all kinds of treatments including steroid creams and almost everything else. We went to pediatricians, dermatologists and even a pediatric dermatologist specialist 4 hours drive away. My wife began to research and we found out much about eczema and the treatments. Steroids are sometimes effective but also carry many possible side effects. We have found safe non prescription ways that are helping even more than the medications. A company called Arbonne Int. has great products for sensitive skin and we now use them along with other natural items that have allowed us to not have to use any medications at all. Now even our pediatrician is recommending them to all his patients with skin problems. There is a short story of what we have gone through with our son as well as before and after pictures at my wife’s website. There products really do help and I know she would answer any questions you may have and might be able to help even more.
  The website is www.babysoft.myarbonne.com
  
  I hope this can help you some.

Frequently Asked Questions