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Adult on set asthma and eczema

elanaoali profile image
16 Replies

Hi all

My teenage daughter developed a small patch of eczema on her elbow in lock down. Its been treated and is under control. The doctor believed she got it because I have asthma (adult onset) and recently hay fever. My husband does get mild hay fever. I think he is wrong.

Thoughts please.

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elanaoali profile image
elanaoali
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16 Replies
EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador

Asthma, allergies (like hay fever) and eczema can be interrelated. That link can also run in families. As a kid I had relatively bad eczema, but mild to nothing hay fever (no asthma til teenage). My brother had really bad hay fever and I don’t think any eczema and doesn’t have asthma. My mum has the triad (like I do now), my dad doesn’t have any tho his mum had asthma, and he had an allergy to one of our old rabbits he thinks.

There is a link for the 3, and there can be a hereditary thing. Hope this helps

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat

My father had bad asthma. Our daughter started life with a bit of eczema and one or two other odd allergic symptoms, then at toddler age got chronic urticaria, then at 5 diagnosed with asthma, and finally hayfever in her teens. I have had a bit of allergy since my teens, nothing much but annoying, mainly of the urticaria and allergic eyes variety, then 6 years ago I got diagnosed with asthma. I totally agree with Emma - these conditions are strongly linked.

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali in reply to Wheezycat

So what causes adult on set asthma? I was aware of my husband hay fever so I breastfeed my daughter to reduce the risk. My family ie mum and dad and siblings had no allergies. I developed asthma at the age of 36 years.

She didn't have any issues as a child or any other of her siblings. What could be the cause of the ecezma?

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to elanaoali

I don’t have any exact answers, nor am I an expert on these things, but since our daughter was young I tried to learn as much as possible about these things to be as well informed as I could manage, to provide an optimal environment for her well being. I tried to become knowledgeable how these things work, and what being atopic could mean. That learning also helps me now even if I have to brush up on things.

With a father who had a bad case of asthma (I couldn’t and wouldn’t attempt to classify the severity, as I truly don’t know, but the outcome was severe) , I had nothing like that as a child or adult, but began to half suspect asthma in myself many years ago. As it was nothing dramatic I never went for confirmation, until I was in my mid sixties, and eventually was confirmed. Now it is an important factor in my life. I am classified as adult/late onset, but my genetic tendency was clearly already there, I am in no doubt about that. Maybe it is the same for you, that without knowing it you had it in your genes, and then something triggered it. That is just a speculative guess. But if you have a gene for these conditions (the eczema/asthma/allergies triad), your daughter could also have that gene. And the most important thing is that she gets the help she needs.

4 years ago, when my asthma truly became more of a thing, and I had a bad period that went on for months, culminating in a hospital admission, I developed a small but angry eczematous patch on my torso a short while later.. I have no idea why, nor did my doctor, as I personally have no history of eczema, but I must admit I think it may have been due to getting so run down and over reactive due to my neglected asthma. It has never happened again, and the patch is long gone, but who knows, if I do get run down, maybe it could happen again.

Babbela profile image
Babbela

I had eczema at 1yr and asthma at 5 yr I was told the two illnesses are related .I am 64 now and still got both and my experience is that allergies are a attribute in both .

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali

I was totally fine as a child with no eczema or any other problems. So I puzzle by developing asthma in adult life.

ninelives profile image
ninelives in reply to elanaoali

Can happen elanaoali.

We are a family with multiple allergies resulting in severe asthma and excema.

Two of the children had asthma ,hayfever and eczema almost from birth even though breast fed .The third was fine till 15 when eczema came out of the blue and was put on cyclosporin.

At 40 he still has severe excema.

Hope you find answers soon.

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali in reply to ninelives

Hi Ninelives

I think I have my answer my daughter's eczema is probably due to me having adult on asthma and my husband having mild hayfever.

ninelives profile image
ninelives in reply to elanaoali

Well done for finding cause.

Best of luck !

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali

Thanks for all your replies.

When I was a child I was called "the home for homeless germs" by my mum. :-)

So from what I gather here. Adult onset asthma may be caused by genetic tendency. So my daughter developing eczema at 17 is because of me and my husband (my asthma and his hayfever).

I no sure why I developed asthma but I think it was due to being overweight. It has got alot worse in the last 5 years . Now on high dose inhaler fostair nexthaler 200/6 2 puffs twice a day and monkslaust. This has kept me well for over a year.

I thank God for our amazing NHS.

Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat in reply to elanaoali

I think you always have to have the genetic tendency to get it (I could be wrong), but not all with such tendency do get it.

As EmmaF91 said Eczema, Hayfever and Asthma belong to same family of diseases. It does not mean you will get all three or that if you get one you will get the others but it is not uncommon.

Eczema, asthma and hayfever all run in my family:

Maternal side - Grandfather, Mum, Aunt, 2 Cousins

Paternal side - Uncle and cousin

I have had eczema on and off mildly since 10 but it got worse in late 40's.

I have had hayfever since I was 11

Symptoms of asthma started at 15 but diagnosed at 19

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali

Hayfever,eczema and asthma doesnt run in my side of the family. My husband side has no record of these conditions either.

I am the only one who has asthma and developed hayfever couple of years ago.

mariyn profile image
mariyn in reply to elanaoali

I’ve had asthma and eczema for 72 years and I am the only one in my family . Lots more research needs to be done to provide answers Take care Marilyn

peege profile image
peege

she may have underlying eczema and its come out due to the recent stress of lock down etc. My son developed hay-fever about 13/14 about the same time his childhood asthma ceased.

elanaoali profile image
elanaoali

It started a few weeks into lockdown and the reason is still a mystery. Glad to report that it responsed well to the steriod cream and has cream to moisture it morning and night.

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