Diaper Rash - When to Seek Treatment
Posted on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 @ 03:28 PM
Recently the American Academy of Family Physicians released a list of warning signs concerning diaper rash. They recommend that diaper rash should be evaluated by a doctor when:
The rash breaks out when the baby is 6 weeks or younger.
The rash has small ulcers or pimples.
The rash is accompanied by fever, nodules or large bumps.
The infant doesn't look well or has lost weight.
The rash spreads beyond the diaper area, including to the scalp, face or arms.
The rash doesn't improve with treatment after a week.
In many cases a pharmacy that focuses in making specialized medications (i.e. compounding pharmacy), like Bayview Pharmacy, can assist you and your physician in identifying a proper treatment strategy for your child. A compounding pharmacy can identify medications that may help to treat your child's illness and develop a strategy that maximizes effectiveness, while limiting costs.
An example of how a compounding pharmacy could help to treat your child's diaper rash follows. Topical cholestyramine ointment has been identified as an agent that may help treat irritation due to bile acids. Topical mupirocin has been identified as an agent that has shown the ability alleviate diaper dermatitis and Candida. A compounding pharmacist has the ability to compound these two medications together, into one topical ointment. The advantages of such an ointment could be:
- Increased efficacy compared to either agent used individually
- Decreased amounts of medications being utilized due to a dual therapy product being applied
- Decreased medication costs due to the above
An example of how a physician might prescribe for this compounded medication would be:
Compounded Medication
Cholestyramine 10% / Mupirocin 2%
Topical Ointment
120gm
Apply to affected area TID or @ each diaper change
For more information about treating diaper rash or how prescription compounding may help you - contact us at your convenience.