Incidence of diaper dermatitis increasing

Rawalpindi
The incidence of diaper dermatitis is continuously increasing and one of the main reasons behind it is use of poor quality diapers which are on sale without any check in almost all wholesale and retail markets of town.
Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that all types of diapers particularly on sale in wholesale markets of town in Raja Bazaar are not safe to use as many of the unknown brands cause rashes which is not curable unless their use is ceased. The concerned government authorities are dealing sale of diapers as general item and not as medicated items.
The incidence of diaper dermatitis has definitely increased mainly because of two reasons, one use of poor quality diapers and second delay in changing a wet diaper, said Head of Paediatrics Department at Rawalpindi Medical College Professor Dr. Rai Muhammad Asghar while talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday.
He added the type of dermatitis caused by the use of poor quality diapers responds poorly to drugs and gets cured completely only after stopping the use of the diaper whose material may contain toxins or allergins, however, the matter has not been taken up by any authority as yet.
To a query, he said it is observed that the use of some diapers causes dermatitis even if they are changed in time prior to getting wet. It hints that the material particularly plastic (Polythene) used in preparing these diapers is of substandard quality, he added.
He said that a number of unfit for use diapers are being sold in open markets in town and so far none of the concerned authorities is checking their quality. There are no reports that any of the concerned authorities have ever taken action against whole sellers selling diapers containing substandard material or toxins or allergins, said Professor Rai.
He said that the diapers should be included in the list of medicated items and should not be taken as a general product to safeguard infants, children and elderly patients from complications.
The Executive District Officer (Health) Dr. Khalid Randhawa, when contacted by ‘The News’ on Saturday said diapers are taken as general item or commodity and their sale is not taken as medicated items.
However, many health experts like Professor Rai expressed to ‘The News’ that there is a need to ensure quality of diapers on sale in markets as these are used by
vulnerable population, infants and children and patients, mostly in old age. They say that the sale of diapers should be dealt as sale of medicated items and not as a general commodity.