Just-published research of eczema in children – and the accompanying sleep interruption it causes the kids and their parents – has led to a recommended treatment.

University of Nevada researchers compared the benefit of antihistamines versus topical steroids to control the itch/scratching in children with eczema.

They found that both forms of therapy were effective. In fact, they were equally good in preventing sleep disturbance from nocturnal itch – a particularly vexing symptom for families because it causes significant loss of sleep.

And, because the children are unattended in bed, their scratching often causes significant trauma to their skin.  All but five percent of the Nevada study group responded positively to the use of antihistamines.

This led the researchers to recommend their use in all children with eczema