chronic

Atopic Eczema in Children

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources3 sources

NICE Guideline CG57 Atopic Eczema in Under 12s 2007 · Hydrocortisone 1% cream SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 13103) · No labelled dose - emollient applied liberally and as often as needed, to effect

Verified against2 documents

No labelled dose - emollient applied liberally and as often as needed, to effect
Hydrocortisone 1% cream SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 13103)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (3)

Ask when it began, where it sits, how bad the itch is, and whether it wrecks sleep [itching]
Look for atopy in the child or the family, and for contact allergy
Triggers to hunt: dust mite, animal dander, soap, fragrance, polyester, hot showers, sweating, food [sweating]

Signs — what you find (5)

In babies: swollen papules and plaques, sometimes blistered or crusted, over scalp, face and outer limbs [crusting · papules · plaques]
In children: drier patches and plaques sitting in the elbow and knee creases [plaques]
In adults: long-standing thickened skin with exaggerated markings, often on the hands
By stage: acute swollen red papules with blisters, subacute redness and scale, chronic thick lichenified plaques [blisters · papules · plaques · redness]
The nappy area is rarely involved; a rash there is more often thrush or seborrhoeic dermatitis [rash]

Tests (4)

Diagnosis rests on the clinical picture expected at that age and subtype
Keratosis pilaris found alongside supports the diagnosis
Skin biopsy, where it is done, shows an eczematous pattern
For a child not responding, IgE immunoassay or skin prick may name allergens, but a positive one need not be a real trigger

If not this — what else fits (4)

Contact allergy to something touching the skin can mimic it
Scabies and tinea are the infective mimics to rule out
Psoriasis, lichen simplex and lichen planus can look much the same
Seborrhoeic dermatitis belongs on the list as well

SourceStatPearls "Atopic Dermatitis" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

LIQUID PARAFFIN

1st line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

Apply emollients liberally to all affected areas at least 2-3 times daily - long-term continuous maintenance

Paediatric dose

Apply liberally and frequently (at least 250-500g weekly) in direction of hair growth

Dose source

No labelled dose - emollient applied liberally and as often as needed, to effect

Why

Emollient mixtures (liquid/white soft paraffin) serve as foundation of skin barrier repair in eczema.

Cautions

Emollients are the cornerstone of management; continue even when skin is clear.
Warn about fire hazard when fabric comes into contact with paraffin-based products.
Use soap substitutes rather than standard soaps.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
ADCOCARE CREAM 20 GM! also contains glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol, urea	ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)	12.00 EGP
DERMOLAN CREAM 50 GM! also contains allantoin, glycerol, glycolic acid, panthenol, salicylic acid, urea, vitamin c, zinc oxide	HI-CARE > EMICO PHARMA	19.00 EGP
ADCOCARE CREAM 40 GM! also contains glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol, urea	ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)	21.75 EGP
CARE MIX PLUS HAIR CREAM 50 GM! also contains cetostearyl alcohol, lanolin, panthenol, wheat protein, white soft paraffin	VITA PHARM > CARE MIX	29.50 EGP
PROPOLIS CREAM 15 ML! also contains cera alba, glycerin, propolis	LUNA FOR PERFUMES AND COSMETICS > TECHNOMED GROUP	30.00 EGP
PROPOLIS CREAM 30 ML! also contains cera alba, glycerin, propolis	LUNA FOR PERFUMES AND COSMETICS > TECHNOMED GROUP	55.00 EGP
HEALTHPOINT NAPPY CREAM 100 GM! also contains benzyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, lanolin, peg-100 s, water, zinc oxide	HEALTHPOINT LTD. > PAXTON	70.00 EGP
HERCUL WHITENING CREAM 60 GM! also contains alpha arbutin, diemthicone, glycerin, licorice ext, octyl methoxy, titanium dioxide, vit.c	LEADER FOR COSMETICS > JUNIER PHARMA	74.75 EGP

HYDROCORTISONE

2nd line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

To be applied sparingly to the affected skin two or three times daily - Courses of treatment in children should generally be limited to not more than seven to ten days.

Paediatric dose

Prolonged use in infants and children and on the face should be avoided.

Dose source

Hydrocortisone 1% cream SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 13103)

Why

Low-potency topical corticosteroid used to settle the inflammation of an active eczema flare; applied after emollient, and stopped once the flare resolves rather than continued indefinitely.

Cautions

Apply steroid 15-30 minutes after emollient.
Stop topical steroid once flare resolves.
Watch for secondary bacterial infection (crusting, weeping, pustules) requiring oral flucloxacillin.
Limit a course in a child to 7-10 days, and remember the face and scalp absorb far more than limb skin.
Hydrocortisone Cream is contra-indicated in patients with bacterial, viral or fungal infections of the skin, urticaria, rosacea, ulcers and local infection.
Hydrocortisone Cream is contra-indicated in patients with bacterial, viral or fungal infections of the skin. Urticaria, rosacea, ulcers and local infection are also contra-indications.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
NOVACORTIN 1% CREAM 15 GM	PHAROPHARMA	4.75 EGP
NOVACORTIN 1% OINT. 15 GM	PHAROPHARMA	4.75 EGP
MICORT 1% CREAM 20 GM	MISR	12.50 EGP
HYDROCORTISONE 1% OINT. 20 GM	MISR	21.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.