• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Eczema: A huge skin pain to families

watchdog by watchdog
4 months ago
in Conversations with, Op-Ed
7 1
Dr. Ronald Katureebe

Dr. Ronald Katureebe

ShareTweetSendShare

By Dr. Ronald Katureebe

Mothers and fathers as well plus other caretakers often endure long sleepless and scary nights when the children under their care develop Eczema.

Lindah a mother of two young school going children has endured a number of sleepless nights that started as itchy irritated skin for one of her children.

“The itchiness got out of hand as my 7 year old son  Jerome lost all the peace he had as a result of scratching himself continuously through the night making it a very uncomfortable and sleepless night for us all” she says.

I had some pain killers in the house that I tried to give him to relieve the itchiness till morning when we could go and see a doctor but there was little difference.

What is Eczema?

Eczema scientifically known as Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that is very common in children over 6 months through to their teenage years.

Dermatologist Dr. Ronald Katurebe the Lead Consultant at Kampala Dermatology clinic Bugolobi says that this condition usually manifests with dry skin, very itchy patches and it occurs in about one of every 5 children. 

Generally those with extremely dry skin which stays looking pale even when Vaseline or lotion is applied are likely to get this condition at one point.

However Dr. Katureebe notes that 60% of children outgrow this condition by the time they are the teenagers. 

What causes Eczema?

This Inflammatory condition emanates from the natural barrier of the skin itself being defective. It does run in families which implies that one has the genetic predisposition to get it if a relative or family member has it. 

Dr. Katureebe says that ideally the skin barrier is supposed to prevent harmful external materials from getting in while also keeping water inside from escaping. 

Normal skin as a result has tightly packed skin cells that help keep water in and prevent dryness while preventing allergens and irritants from getting through.

However in the case of some one suffering from Eczema Dr. Katureebe notes that their skin is open which leads to water escape, dryness and the barrier is compromised allowing allergens, irritants and micro organisms to get in and inflammation occurs as a result of the body trying to fight off these foreign bodies.

The inflammation is the reason the itchy red patches and rash occur as symptoms.

Conditions that facilitate Eczema

First is the genetic factors which predispose one to catch Eczema based on family history of the condition being present in the family lineage.

Secondly Dr. Katureebe notes that environment does play a big part too in one getting Eczema. “ In urban areas with pollutants that irritate the skin, you find this condition occurring more commonly there.”

 Other factors include diet, and weaker immune systems that become hyper sensitive to every attack.

How does Eczema manifest?

In young babies the patches often times occur on the cheeks and for those over 2 years it shows up around the elbow joints, behind the knees, neck and armpits.

However when it is widespread it can affect all other parts too.

What may trigger Eczema?

Skin irritants like soaps, detergents, aero allergens ( from the air), grass, pollen, animal fur and dust mites will cause sensitive skin to react according to Dr. Katureebe. Synthetic clothes also trigger Eczema especially on the back for those with sensitive skin he notes. 

Fabric softeners, stress, weather changes, food allergens especially skin reactions to animal proteins from milk, meat eggs and ground nuts can all be triggers.

Complications associated with Eczema

Dr. Katureebe emphasizes that Eczema is not a fatal condition but can cause significant morbidity (sickness). The condition is not curable but can be managed and controlled.

In some cases he notes that the patches can get secondary infections usually bacterial or viral and this occurs in about 50% of Eczema cases.

It is not infectious and with treatment one can live a symptom free near normal life with the condition.

However it is often a big challenge and distressing as the scratching and irritation means sleepless nights for both parents and children.

It also means isolation at school because the patches can look really terrible in some cases resulting in missed school days for the children and missed work days for the parents too leaving families strained and stressed as a whole.

Treatment of the Disease

One should avoid the triggers for the irritation and reaction for a start. 

Maintaining the skin barrier using the right moisturizer to help maintain the barrier, the moisturizers have to contain the right emollients. 

Eczema is also linked to other conditions like Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma, it is sometimes referred to as ‘Asthma of the skin.’

Dr. Katureebe says the rash when it flares is treated using medicated creams called steroids, these clear the inflammation. This treatment should take not more than 2 weeks.

 Prolonged use of these has side effects and should only be prescribed by a medical professional in special circumstances he adds.

In severe cases systemic treatment is used and this according to Dr.Katureebe includes Immuno suppressants and other regimens.

Eczema can also affect adults and there are a number of variants including Nummular Eczema, Dishydrotic Eczema, Asteatotic and Statis Eczema which are seen in adults and the elderly as well.

The Author is a Dermatologist at Kampala Dermatology clinic Bugolobi

Email: rmkatureebe@gmail.com


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share2Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: For Parish Development Model to have impact in Karamoja, Government needs to partner with NGOs

4th July 2025 at 09:10
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda
Conversations with

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10
Phillip R. Ongadia
Op-Ed

PHILLIP R. ONGADIA: NRM joint campaign: The party’s fault line

3rd July 2025 at 18:58
Next Post
Phillip R. Ongadia

PHILLIP R. ONGADIA: Kawempe North By-Election: NRM's Performance, Lessons Learned, and the Path Forward Ahead of 2026 General Elections

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1110 shares
    Share 444 Tweet 278
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2286 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 572
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    29 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 7
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    43 shares
    Share 17 Tweet 11
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    119 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Hon. Raphael Magyezi

Yara East Africa and Asili Agriculture Launch Agri-Hub in Kiryandongo to Advance Farmer Knowledge and Food Security in Uganda

4th July 2025 at 19:06
Chancellor of Jinja Diocese and Bishop’s Secretary, Fr. Gerald Mutto

Preparations for St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations complete 

4th July 2025 at 17:54

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0
Hon. Raphael Magyezi

Yara East Africa and Asili Agriculture Launch Agri-Hub in Kiryandongo to Advance Farmer Knowledge and Food Security in Uganda

4th July 2025 at 19:06
Chancellor of Jinja Diocese and Bishop’s Secretary, Fr. Gerald Mutto

Preparations for St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations complete 

4th July 2025 at 17:54

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda