About 15 percent of children in Israel suffer from skin asthma • Along with the severe physical phenomena, children have to deal with complex routines and social difficulties. • Now innovative biological therapy gives them hope for a healthy life.

• The Nachtstar family. "In a few weeks the disease has completely dissipated"

One in six children suffers from atopic dermatitis ("skin asthma"), which is manifested by itching and rashes, and sometimes also with skin infections. In most cases, it passes into adulthood, but children whose illness appears in its severe form experience a significant impairment in their quality of life. They suffer from looking in the pool, need to wear clothes that do not irritate the skin, use 24-hour air conditioning, suffer from restlessness and sleep disorders, and all along with growth and development problems, social difficulties and lifestyle damage.

So far, the treatments for the younger patients have been mainly treatments related to maintaining the skin's moisture, using oil or baths, and are designed to prevent itching. Patients in serious condition were given steroid therapy, phototherapy (light rays) or immune suppressants. Recently, a new treatment has been approved in the US and Israel, which also treats the causes of the disease and not just the symptoms. This is the first biological treatment for the disease that is approved for patients 12-6 years old, which is in the drug basket in Israel and gives hope to the younger patients.

Noa Nachtstern (13) develops hope of coping with the disease since she was 7. "Atopic dermatitis in severe severity takes over life. The constant itching and skin that constantly irritates and burns is only the tip of the iceberg of the devastating effect of the disease," says her mother Faith Nichtstern (45). ), Which she and her husband Ophir experienced years of complex coping. "In the toughest time, Noa became a happy and happy girl for a girl who doesn't eat, doesn't sleep, doesn't go to friends or circles," explains Pizit. "She was constantly burning and hurting, and the itching did not stop - right down to blood." 

"No less enchanting"

The parents tried everything to make it easier for Noa. "We tried to adjust the house to reduce exposure to skin irritations, bought bedding and clothes that did not irritate the skin, we moved oils of oils and the use of various types of skin preparations," says Faith, candidly, "to all the top skin doctors in the country who gave her creams, pills "Alternative treatments, powerful drugs that suppress the immune system that caused severe side effects, dozens of phototherapy treatments. We even flew for three weeks of medical treatments in France, but a few weeks after the disease returned to its peak."

About a year and a half ago, the doctor updated Ophir and Pizat that the drug "Dupixent" was approved in the US, and the two started a simple process to get the injections because they were not recognized in the country. Pizat and Ophir do not hide the excitement when talking about Noa's change. . God bless within a few weeks the disease has completely dissipated. The girl got her life back. Noa just did a makeover, returned to normal life, met with friends again, returned to regular studies. For the past year and a half, she has been 20 cm tall, and has even gone on an annual trip that includes lodging outside the home. It's not something we thought would ever happen, and we still hope that dealing with atopic dermatitis is already behind us. "

Michael Gabbra (8) Magni Hope was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis at the age of one. "Michael hasn't slept for a whole night since the age of one. These are nights of crying, screaming and pain," painfully describes his mother, adding: "I thought it would pass, as with most babies with the symptoms of the disease." But for Michael it got worse, and for years his skin was covered with wounds, even his face. "A harrowing experience occurred to him during a visit to the pool, when the rescuer contacted me and told me that one of the women approached him and asked to get the boy out of the water with the sores on his skin," Aliza recalls. The Gabra family and the Nachtstern family are members of the Israeli Atopic Dermatitis Association and are assisted in coping.

Heavy economic consequences

"From the beginning, it was clear to me that it was impossible for the illness to damage his self-confidence, social connections and dreams. That's why we didn't hide, in the summer he went to kindergarten with shorts, and we didn't cover the wounds. It's not easy, but he is a real fighter," the mother says. Aliza describes a journey of dozens of treatments and preparations that did not help her son. 

"We've tried acupuncture, naturopathy and countless alternative therapies, ointments of all kinds, even cannabis oil. Not only is any therapeutic failure reoccurring with despair, it's also a simple financial matter," emphasizes Aliza, who alone grows Michael and his older brother, David ( 10).

"When your child is not sleeping, you are not sleeping either. There were nights we would find ourselves going out in the night to a garden or a morning walk. Michael has a great love for animals, and we would watch National Geographic at three in the morning to calm down and fall asleep."

"From an early stage, Michael refused to sleep on white bedding. Even if we went to the hotel, he always wanted me to bring dark bedding from the house so that in the morning no blood stains would be seen on the sheets. It's awful for a parent to see his child fear such things. Take off a shirt next to people who will feel different. " 

With the exception of the HMO, Michael was approved for treatment with Dupixent. "This drug saved us. It's another kid. He slept for a whole night, developed an appetite, his skin look just completely different. I admit I really didn't believe it would be the result," Aliza says excitedly. 

Although Michael continues to be guarded by many factors that may irritate and exacerbate the inflammation, there are things Aliza tries not to prevent: "Michael's love for animals cannot be extinguished. Contact with animal fur is not recommended in his condition, but I allow him. He loves dogs and even decided "He wants to serve in the Army in the dog unit. It's too early to tell if that will be possible, but he's a Winner boy and will do anything to give him what he wants." 

Great news

"The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the Western world, including Israel, is 15% for children and about 5% for adults," explains Dr. Shoshi Greenberger, a specialist in dermatology and sex and director of pediatric dermatology at Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center. She said joining the drug Dupeqisant in the arsenal of treatments for the disease is "great news and new hope, because it is far more effective than the existing treatments and is also safe to use." There are other drugs that are in clinical trials, and we hope these treatments are effective. "