Eczema is usually mild but sometimes may be severe and incapacitating, says Dr Michael Boffa in his report on teachers' level of awareness about the condition.
The disease is not contagious. It usually appears before the age of one and often improves with age, but the underlying tendency to get it cannot be cured. It may therefore affect schooling in a number of ways, and factors associated with schooling may influence the disease, says the report.
The skin becomes dry and itchy and may develop blisters, weeping and crusting. The areas of the body most affected are usually the neck, cheeks, hands, wrists, ankles, feet, and elbow and knee creases. The itching may become severe and distressing.
If a child with eczema has a severe bout of itching it may be impossible not to scratch, so to avoid disrupting the class it may be best for the child to leave briefly in order to calm down.
Hand eczema may make writing difficult and itching may disrupt sleep at night and cause distraction during the day, making concentration difficult. Certain antihistamine medications given for itching may aggravate the problem, causing drowsiness and irritability.
Flare-ups of ezcema may lead to school absence, and eczema may result in psychological stress, depression or low self-esteem. This may be made worse by negative comments from children or when sufferers are unable to take part in activities like sports, making them feel "left-out".
Factors such as stress, soap, woollen clothing, swimming pool water, pollen, dust, excessive heat or cold and sweating could make the condition worse, so children may need to be excused from sporting activities.
Happy feelings, moisturising creams, cotton clothing, sunshine in moderation and sea water could benefit the condition.
Certain occupations involving exposure to irritants or allergens - such as hairdressing, nursing, building, catering or car maintenance - are inappropriate for those with eczema. Suitable occupations include office work, information technology and teaching, where the environment is clean and dry and does not pose a threat to the skin.