New Survey Finds Most Mothers may Overlook Severe Cases of Diaper Rash

A survey of new and expectant mothers found that new mothers consider their pediatricians — less than friends, the internet and their own mothers — to be their most trusted sources of information on child care issues, such as diaper rash. The survey conducted by Barrier Therapeutics Inc., in its ‘Vusion Baby Bottom Line Report’ sought to gain a better understanding of how much mothers know about diaper rash — including more severe cases that involve Candida, which their Vusion Ointment product is designed to treat. It found that although many children suffer from diaper rash during infancy and toddlerhood, many mothers, knowing the condition is common, often don’t realize it can range in severity and may therefore be inclined to overlook the more severe cases. The report found that most new and expectant mothers do not know that some diaper rash can be so severe that it may require prescription drug treatment. According to the survey: • Fewer than one in five moms could identify any of the defined differences between normal diaper rash and more serious or severe diaper rash. • Only 29% of moms know that a severe diaper rash with yeast infection can progress quickly. • Only one in five (20%) of moms are aware that over-the-counter medications are not approved to treat this condition. • Nearly half of moms (43%) incorrectly believe or are not sure that cloth diapers prevent diaper rash. When A Doctor Should Be Consulted about an infant’s diaper rash Parents should be encouraged to consult their physician if their child’s rash lasts 2 to 3 days or the skin in the area presents with pustules or with a beefy red appearance. “Barrier Therapeutics is committed to increasing the awareness of parents about skin conditions, including diaper rash with documented yeast infection,” said Dr. Braham Shroot, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Barrier Therapeutics Inc., said in a press release. “This is important because we have discovered that parents are quite unfamiliar with this condition and we encourage them to seek advice from their healthcare provider.” Vusion Ointment was FDA approved in 2006 to safely and effectively treat diaper rash with a documented yeast infection. It can be prescribed to infants as young as 4 weeks with a normal immune system. The survey was administered by Penn, Schoen and Berland and was conducted online in April 2008. It was conducted among a representative national sample of 516 U.S. adult women who either have a child in diapers or are currently pregnant.