Atopic eczema affects one in five children, and for half of them, it becomes a lifelong condition. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered how bacterial flare-ups impact a person’s immune system, leading to the potential development of a targeted vaccine.
undefined
Eczema is not life-threatening or contagious but can cause discomfort, especially in children. Symptoms include itchy, dry skin and, in some cases, oozing wounds that can lead to infection if bacteria are present.
Dr. Julian Croley, lead author of the study, emphasized the need for new treatment options for infectious eczema in children to prevent relapses and reduce reliance on antibiotics due to antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers believe that a vaccine could strengthen the immune system, lessen eczema severity, and potentially mitigate complications and other atopic diseases such as hay fever and asthma, which often occur alongside eczema.
By studying immune responses in children with infectious erythematous eczema, the research team identified changes in T cells and other biomarkers that play a role in immune suppression during eczema flare-ups. This immune signature could be crucial for vaccine development.
More research is needed to validate these findings across different age groups and ethnicities, but the potential for a vaccine-based solution to transform eczema treatment approaches is promising.
Read more:
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
