PRINTER'S NO. 2128
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
482
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, OCTOBER 17, 2018
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 17, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2018 as "Eczema Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Eczema is a set of skin conditions that cause red,
itchy and inflamed skin and has profound medical, psychosocial
and economic effects on patients, families and their
communities; and
WHEREAS, The prevalence of eczema in the United States is
10.1%, affecting more than 31.6 million children and adults; and
WHEREAS, Eczema's medical effects include dry, cracked and
scaly skin, incessant itch, chronic pain and sleep deprivation;
and
WHEREAS, Approximately 41.5% of adult eczema patients report
having a co-occurring diagnosis of depression and 47.9% report
having a co-occurring diagnosis of asthma; and
WHEREAS, Adults and children with eczema also frequently
exhibit comorbidities such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food
allergies, ADHD, bacterial and viral infections and
hypertension; and
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WHEREAS, Eczema's disease burden also includes anxiety,
stress on social and intimate relationships, increased suicidal
ideation, delayed developmental achievement, reduced self-
esteem, restrictions on diet and exercise, extensive burdens on
caregivers and challenges with medication adherence; and
WHEREAS, Eczema can result in missed days of school and work
for patients and caregivers, disability and reduced ability
within a patient's chosen profession, unemployment and
underemployment and other opportunity costs; and
WHEREAS, The direct medical costs of the three most common
types of eczema exceed $2.17 billion and the indirect medical
costs exceed $927 million; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of eczema patients report experiencing
significant access barriers, including high out-of-pocket costs
and insurance requirements that delay patients' access to
medications; and
WHEREAS, There is no cure for eczema but emerging
technologies and medications promise a much brighter future for
eczema patients; and
WHEREAS, Raising awareness of eczema as a public health issue
educates the public on the ways eczema affects the lives of
those with the disease and their families and how they can have
access to affordable and effective treatments; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of October 2018
as "Eczema Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
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