First-of-Its-Kind Treatment Shown to Have a 'Dramatic' Effect on Kids With Eczema

Children under the age of six are more likely to be affected by Eczema.

The chronic inflammatory skin disorder can cause the skin to go red and dry and make life very uncomfortable.

There's currently no cure for the condition, just ways of managing it, but an existing drug is incredibly effective at reducing the signs and symptoms of the disorder in children under the age of six.

This is the first time a drug like this has been tested on this group.

Dupilumab is a drug. A group of children with moderate-to-severe Eczema were given dupilumab or a placebo over a 16-week period.

The drug reduced symptom severity in more than half of the children. The kids were able to sleep better.

"Preschoolers who are constantly scratching, awake multiple times a night with their parents, irritable and limited in their ability to do what other children their age can do, improved to the extent that they sleep through the night, change their personality and have a normal life, as babies and children should

Dupilumab is already used to treat asthma, as well as other allergy-mediated problems, in older children and adults.

It hadn't been approved for use in children under the age of six because it hadn't been proven to be effective.

Around a third of this age group have a moderate to severe case of the disorder with accompanying itching that is disabling.

There are concerns over the use of oral steroids for young children because of the long-term health consequences and the short-term side effects.

Those under five years old were unable to get dupilumab because they hadn't been tested. The effect for most of these younger children is very similar to what we've seen with the risky immunosuppressant medications.

There is no need for further laboratory tests since Dupilumab has a safety profile marked as outstanding. The drug can be given to children as young as 6 months, and either a parent or healthcare professional can administer it.

The researchers believe it could have preventative effects. It might protect against other allergic issues later in life because it takes such an aggressive approach to calming the immune system'sInflammation response.

The researchers think dupilumab might be useful in dealing with other health issues in younger kids.

The ability to take this drug will greatly improve the quality of life for infants and young children with this disease.

Atopic dermatitis is more than just a skin condition. It's a terrible disease. It is equivalent to many life threatening diseases for the quality of life of a child with severe Eczema.

The study was published in The Lancet and was funded by both Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.