Paediatric Dermatology for the General Practitioner

This session will provide an overview of the most common problems referred to a tertiary paediatric dermatology clinic including diagnosis, management and when to refer.

Dermatological presentations comprise a high proportion of presentations to General Practitioners and these can be difficult to get a handle on amidst all the pressures and knowledge demands on a busy GP. 

Following eleven years working as a consultant in a tertiary paediatric clinic, this session aims to bring clarity to the most common conditions seen in the outpatient clinic. These most common conditions are covered from a diagnostic and management point of view as well as providing clear guidelines on when to refer. 

Conditions include birthmarks with a focus on infantile haemangiomas and port wine stains. The very common problem of eczema is discussed in detail including when to consider allergy testing. As well as atopic eczema, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis are discussed including an introduction to patch testing and when it is useful. Other common conditions including urticaria and molluscum are discussed.

SPEAKER:
Dr Claire Grills has been a consultant dermatologist for over 10 years at The Royal Children’s Hospital as well as for the past 5 years at Sunshine Hospital.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify infantile haemangiomas and counsel parents on treatment options
• Explain the availability and timing of laser treatment for port wine stains
• Write an eczema management plan for all patients including instructions on wet dressings and bleach baths
• Identify patients requiring referral
• Explain the difference between dermatitis from endogenous and exogenous sources and how to test for allergic contact dermatitis with patch testing