Psoriasis and Children: What you need to know.
Aug 15 '00
This will be a series of articles about Psoriasis, The Effects on Children and Being Involved with their care, Treatments, How to find the right Doctor, and advice for parents from people who have grown up with this disease. I will be using some comments from the members of Psoriasis Connection who have had Psoriasis since childhood ( they will be in italics). This editorial will basically be an introduction to the disease.
What the heck is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic NON-CONTAGIOUS , sometimes disabiling auto-immune disorder that is genetic and over 7 million people in the U.S suffer living with this disease. Normally, a person's skin reproduces itself and sheds itself every 28 days. In a person with Psoriasis the skin cells mature very quickly every 3 to 4 days. Psoriasis can effect any part of the body ( mine started on my elbows and knees). In plaque Psoriasis ( the most common type) Psoriasis is excessive cell reproduction causes the skin to build up and causing very inflamed red lesions with a white, silvery scales. The inflammation is caused by the increased blood flow to the skin. There is no cure as of yet but the researchers are getting closer.
There are different severities of Psoriasis from mild to severe. The severity is judged usually by the size of your palm equaling one percent.
Mild Psoriasis- is where there are only a very few lesions.
Moderate Psoriasis - is when the coverage is 5 to 10 percent.
Severe Psoriasis - is 10 to 100 percent
Although, it may not only be how much psoriasis you have but where it is located such as Pusticular Psoriasis which is usually on the palms of the hands and bottom of the feet.
Note: Over 400 people a year file for disability due to Psoriasis or Psoriatic arthritis. Over 400 also die from psoriasis or complications due to psoriasis each year. These are severe cases and are rare.
Types of Psoriasis
There are many types of Psoriasis out there including Plaque, Guttate, Inverse, Pusticular, Scalp, Erthrodermic and also Psoriastic arthritis. You can also suffer from more than one of the types at the same time.
Plaque
Plaque Psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. As described above it can effect you entire body and is most noted by the raised and red inflamed lesions with silvery white scales. It can be extremely itchy and painful.
Guttate Psoriasis
This type of Psoriasis is very common in children . It usually follows a strep or tonsillitis or some other upper respiratory infection. The lesions look like dots and usually have no scales. The can cover the body but normally are found on the trunk, arms and scalp.
Inverse Psoriasis
This is type is not as common and is only found in the folds of the skin such as, underneath the breast,underarms and groin area. I just recently developed this type and it has caused drying, cracked, and bleeding areas.
It is aggravated by sweating and treatment can be very difficult due to the skin being very sensitive.
Pusticular Psoriasis
This type is or can be extremely painful to those that have it. It is has the appearence of pus-filled pimple type pustules on the skin. It can go through cycles of worsening and getting better. It is normally found on the soles of the feet and on the palms of your hands. Although, it can effect any part of the body.
Psoriatic Arthritis
This arthritis is something I live with on a daily basis. It is so painful at times that even the strongest pain medications do not help. It acts in the same way that Rheumatoid Arthritis does affecting the joints, ligaments and muscles and bones. It is considered to be a degenerative disease and disfiguiring the bones. Children with P.A. usually only have involvement in only a few joints. Only ten to fifteen pecent of people with psoriasis get psoriatic arthritis.
Are there Treatments?
Yes, and I will discuss them more in the next review which I will do tomorrow. They can range the gambit of topical steroids creams and tar solutions to Chemo treatment such as Methotrexate. They need a review of their own :). So look for that tomorrow.
So Clara who can get Psoriasis??
I believe that you have to be genectic predisposed to it. It is more common in Caucasians but I have a membership (at Psoriasis Connection)of over a thousand people from all over the world! So Psoriasis does not discreminate.
The Heartbreak
I know that I had a very difficult time in dealing with psoriasis. Stress seemed to me the main trigger to set the psoriasis off in all it's glory.
It had got to the point where I could not wear shorts or short sleeves in public and would covered in psoriasis over 70% of my body. Learning how to deal with people who thought you belonged in a leper colony, also stares and rude comments that were extremely hurtful took me years.
Children with psoriasis have it so much harder than us adluts. I have heard horror stories from young children. Some even wanting to commit suicide due to harassment at school and feeling like an complete outcast.
I also recieve emails from parents that tell me other parents won't let their kids play with there child because of the psoriasis. A child's self -esteem is so important this is why I stress educating people about this disease. Remember when you were young, friends were your life.
Tips for Parents
1. Educate yourself! learn everything you can about the disease and the lastest treatments out there.
2. Educate others about Psoriasis. If your child is having problems at school with classmates talk to the teacher or talk to the class and explain to the class about psoriasis and not to treat others differently just because they maybe be a little different.
3. Be involved with your children and listen to them.Be honest with your children when your are explaining what psoriasis is, just try to keep it at their level of understanding.
4. Make you child an active part in deciding what treatments to try.
5. Find Support groups ! The National Psoriasis Foundation is an excellent place to start. You can reach them by their website at http://www.psoriasis.org or you can phone them at 1-800-723-9166
or 1-503-244-7404. You will gain a wealth of information here.
Also,for Psoriatic Arthritis on the internet at PsoriaticAthritis@egroups.com which is an email discussion list.
My site is http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/3364
You can access many more Psoriasis Sites through this webpage also.
We have a forum on Delphi and Yahoo clubs also. Chat is every Tuesday at 10pm Central on Yahoo clubs http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/psoriasisconnection
The Delphi Forum
http://www.delphi.com/pconnection
The next part to this editorial will be on treatments and finding a Good Doctor.
Thank you you so much for reading this and I hope that someone finds this series helpful.
Wishing all of you Love, Peace and Good Health
Clara Nielsen
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