7 conditions a child with eczema more likely to develop
Children who have the most common type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, frequently develop related health conditions. While you may have seen information about many health conditions, dermatologists and other researchers have found an association between having atopic dermatitis and these 7 conditions:
If your child has atopic dermatitis, the likelihood of developing one or more of these conditions rises. However, it doesn’t mean that your child will develop another condition. It also doesn’t mean that atopic dermatitis causes any of these conditions or that any of these conditions cause atopic dermatitis.
Since there is a greater likelihood of developing these 7 conditions, it helps to be aware of the symptoms for each. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent these conditions from worsening.
Here’s what dermatologists recommend that parents and caregivers look for:
Food allergy
This is an allergic reaction that occurs when your child eats or drinks a certain food. It usually happens minutes to a few hours after eating or drinking the food.
Symptoms of a food allergy can include stomach cramps or pain.
Signs and symptoms of a food allergy: These include a rash, hives (ringlike patches on the skin that can be flat or bumpy and tend to itch), flushing, bloating, stomach cramps or pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stuffy nose, itching in the nose or throat, coughing, wheezing, swelling of the lips or face, shortness of breath, or feeling faint or dizzy.
Seek immediate medical care: If your child develops any of the following, get immediate medical care:
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Swelling on the face or lips
A faint or dizzy feeling
A rash that covers most of the face or another area of the body
What the studies show: Children with atopic dermatitis may have higher odds of being diagnosed with a food allergy.
What to tell dermatologist: If your child has any symptoms of food allergy, let your dermatologist or pediatrician know, so your child can be referred to appropriate medical care.
Eliminating allergens (what causes an allergic reaction) will not clear your child’s skin or alleviate symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Elimination diets are not recommended: If you suspect that your child has a food allergy, it can be tempting to eliminate all foods that commonly cause food allergies, such as cow’s milk, eggs, nuts, soy, and wheat. Keep in mind that these foods provide essential nutrition for a growing child. Growth problems and other issues can develop when a child doesn’t consume necessary nutrients.
For this reason, an accurate diagnosis of a food allergy is essential. This allows you to manage your child’s allergy without eliminating foods unnecessarily from their diet.
Before getting an accurate diagnosis, a food should only be eliminated if you notice that your child has a serious reaction or a reaction to a certain food every time.
Hay fever
This is a common allergic reaction to airborne particles. Pollen is a common cause when your child is outdoors. Indoors, dust mites, pet dander, and mold are common causes of hay fever.
Pollen is a common cause of hay fever in children, and hay fever due to pollen typically begins around 5 years of age.
Signs and symptoms: Runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy-watery eyes, and postnasal drip are common.
What the studies show: Children with atopic dermatitis have a higher risk of developing hay fever than children who do not have atopic dermatitis.
What to tell dermatologist: If you notice that your child has any symptoms of hay fever, let your child’s dermatologist know so that your child can be referred to appropriate medical care. Your child may not have symptoms during an appointment.
Asthma
This condition occurs when a person’s airway narrows, making it difficult to breathe.
An early diagnosis and proper treatment of asthma can prevent changes that affect how well your child can breathe.
Signs and symptoms: Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough, which often occur at night, early in the morning, or after exercise.
As you watch your child breathe, you may notice that with every breath, the skin sinks at the base of your child’s throat or pulls in between the ribs. Another sign to watch for is the stomach moving in deeply to help get air into the lungs. These all indicate that your child is having problems breathing.
What the studies show: Several studies have found that children who have been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis have a higher risk of developing asthma.
What to tell your dermatologist: If your child has shown any symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, or problems breathing, let your dermatologist know. Your dermatologist can refer you to appropriate medical care.
An early diagnosis and proper treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms, prevent severe flare-ups, and minimize the need for emergency room visits. It can also prevent changes that limit how well your child can breathe.
Skin Infections
Atopic dermatitis causes breaks in the skin and dry, irritated skin. Both can increase the risk of developing a skin infection. Some children with atopic dermatitis develop several skin infections.
Children who have atopic dermatitis are prone to developing skin infections, including molluscum contagiosum, which is shown here.
Signs and symptoms: These vary with the infection that your child has. You may notice:
Redness (lighter skin tones)
Purplish color or skin darker than your child’s natural skin tone (darker skin tones)
Pain or tenderness
Swelling
Rash
Bumps
Area leaking pus or other fluid
Blistering
Itching
Your child may have a fever or not feel well.
What the studies show: It is well known that children with atopic dermatitis have a greater likelihood of developing skin infections than children who do not have atopic dermatitis. These skin infections include:
Impetigo
Cellulitis
Staph skin infections
Molluscum contagiosum
Warts
Herpes simplex
What to tell your child’s dermatologist: If you notice any signs of a skin infection, contact your child’s dermatologist immediately.
Early treatment can prevent the infection from spreading or worsening.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
This condition causes swelling in the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat with the stomach. The swelling is triggered by an allergic reaction.
School-aged children who have eosinophilic esophagitis may have trouble swallowing, primarily while eating.
Symptoms: Symptoms vary with a child’s age. Infants and young children may vomit, have acid-reflux-like symptoms, or refuse to eat. Older children and adolescents tend to have trouble swallowing. Sometimes, food gets stuck in their esophagus. If food gets stuck in the esophagus, it can cause sudden chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and drooling.
What studies show: The findings from studies suggest that atopic dermatitis in children is associated with eosinophilic esophagitis. Researchers have found that children who have an atopic condition, such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, or asthma, have a higher risk of developing eosinophilic esophagitis.
What to tell your child’s dermatologist: If you notice any symptoms or behaviors that suggest your child is having trouble eating or swallowing, let your dermatologist know. Your dermatologist can refer you to appropriate medical care.
Early detection and proper treatment can quiet the inflammation and reduce the risk of food getting stuck in the esophagus.
Hives
Also called urticaria, hives are a skin reaction that causes bumps, raised patches, or both to suddenly appear. These bumps and patches often itch intensely. Most cases of hives are temporary and go away without treatment.
If your child has a lighter skin tone (A), hives tend to cause a pink or red rash. Children with darker skin tones (B) often have hives that closely match their skin tones, so hives can be more difficult to spot.
Signs and symptoms: If your child develops hives, you may notice:
Raised spots, patches, or both (color varies with skin tone)
Itchy rash that’s often warm
Hives tend to disappear within 24 hours, but new hives may appear
Hives can cover a large area
Deep swelling under the skin, usually occurring on the lips, eyelids, back of the hands and feet, or genitals
What studies show: Atopic dermatitis in children is associated with hives. One study found that children who have flare-ups of hives that occur daily (or on most days of the week) for 6 weeks or longer have a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis.
What to tell your child’s dermatologist: Hives can come and go, so your child may not have hives during an appointment. During your child’s appointment, be sure to tell your dermatologist the following:
How often the raised spots, patches, or both appear
What they look like
When and where the hives appear
Your dermatologist will tell you if you need to take next steps.
ADHD
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Attention-deficit is a condition in which a person has problems paying attention and is easily distracted. These behaviors may occur with or without hyperactivity (unable to be still for a period of time).
Without proper treatment, ADHD can lead to low self-esteem, poor performance in school, and problems relating to others.
ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders that affects children.
Signs and symptoms: In general, you may notice some of these behaviors:
Often fails to pay close attention to details in schoolwork and other activities
Easily becomes distracted or bored
Is often forgetful
Is frequently restless
Has trouble waiting their turn or remaining seated
Talks excessively
Interrupts others frequently
What studies show: In looking at the studies, dermatologists have found an association between ADHD and atopic dermatitis. These findings indicate that children with atopic dermatitis have a greater likelihood of developing ADHD than do children who do not have atopic dermatitis.
What to tell your child’s dermatologist: If your child has ADHD, treatment is recommended. Should you notice signs of ADHD, tell your child’s dermatologist or pediatrician what you’ve noticed. If they believe your child might have ADHD, they can refer your child for appropriate medical care.
Do children with atopic dermatitis have a risk of developing other conditions?
You may have seen reports that suggest children with atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop conditions other than those described here. These conditions include alopecia areata (a type of hair loss), heart disease, and diabetes.
Further research may find that these or other conditions are associated with atopic dermatitis. So, it’s important to tell your child’s dermatologist about signs and symptoms that your child experiences, even if they seem to have nothing to do with atopic dermatitis.
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Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS
Reviewed by:
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, FAAD
Esteban Fernandez Faith, MD, FAAD
Elisa Gallo, MD, FAAD
Last updated: 5/21/26