Extract

Background and study aims Eczema is a common childhood condition where the skin is dry and itchy. It is usually diagnosed in the first two years of life and in the UK most children are treated by their General Practitioner (GP). Moisturisers (emollients) are the main treatment for eczema but there are many types and we do not know whether one is better than another. This is a problem because patients may have to make several appointments before they are given an emollient that works for them and it may be that older, cheaper emollients are as good as, or better, than newer, more expensive ones. We want to find out whether it is possible to conduct a large study that will answer the question 'What is the most clinically and cost effective primary emollient to use in infants with eczema?'. Who can participate? Parents/carers of 160 children with eczema who are younger than 3 years old can participate in this study. What does the study involve? Participants will be prescribed at random one of four widely available emollients (either a cream, a lotion, a gel or an ointment) to use regularly for 3 months. During this time carers will be asked to complete daily diaries about their child's symptoms and use of emollients and other treatments for eczema, and a researcher will assess the severity of eczema at monthly intervals. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? At the end of this study we will have some useful information about the use of emollients and how to assess their effectiveness. We will also be able to decide if it is possible to conduct a larger study. Findings from this and the future study will improve the decision making around which emollient to prescribe first in infants with eczema. Where is the study run from? The study is being run by the University of Bristol, in collaboration with 16 GP practices throughout Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, UK. When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study starts in June 2014 and runs until August 2015. Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK). Who is the main contact? Dr Victoria J Wilson [email protected]

Inclusion criteria

• Topic: Children, Primary Care; Subtopic: All Diagnoses, Not Assigned; Disease: All Diseases, All Diseases

Links

• ictrp
• isrctn