Authority to speak on eczema

A nurse with extensive experience dealing with eczema will be guest speaker at two public meetings in Wanganui later this month.

Debbie Rickard, a child health nurse practitioner with Wellington's Capital and Coast District Health Board is being brought to the city by Allergy ADHD Wanganui to speak at meetings on September 21 and 22.

Ms Rickard has been nursing in child health for 20 years, with 15 years in community nursing and a particular interest in chronic/complex conditions and children with high needs.

She developed the first nursing service for children with eczema in New Zealand, which includes clinics in Wellington and Kenepuru hospitals and outreach clinics in areas of high need. This has provided a model for similar services to develop elsewhere in the country.

She provides teaching, training and ongoing professional support in optimal eczema and skin infection management to doctors and nurses working in secondary and primary health sectors.

Since 2002 Ms Rickard has been actively involved in research projects in childhood eczema.

Two years ago she was appointed joint clinical leader with paediatric dermatologist Diana Purvis of the newly created National Clinical Network for the Treatment of Children and Youth with Eczema.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the most common skin problems for children and is a condition of dry, extra-sensitive skin that presents as itchy, red, scaly patches. About a third of those with eczema respond to food triggers while others are affected by external factors such as dust and pollen. Most infants will outgrow it by the time they are two to three years old.

The main goal of treatment is to eliminate the itching which causes other symptoms. Children often scratch their skin until it is broken and bleeding, which can lead to secondary infections.

Ms Rickard will speak at 7.30pm on September 21 in the Riverside Church lounge on 'Help for Eczema'. The September 22 meeting, at the same venue, starts at 10am and will be an opportunity to ask questions on a variety of allergic conditions, not just eczema.

Entry is $2 per meeting and non-members are welcome. Contact Sharyn on 345-8393 or email allergyadhd@gmail.com for more information.