Appropriateness of prescribing for childhood eczema: evidence from a community-based study.

Data on dispensed prescriptions of topical corticosteroids and emollients were analysed in a population of 25 484 children aged<or=6 years in Tayside, Scotland. Over a 17-month period, 5818 (22.8%) children were prescribed a topical corticosteroid; half of this group, (2946; 50.6%) were not prescribed any emollient. In the group of children prescribed topical corticosteroids, 3505/5818 (60.2%) received combined preparations of topical corticosteroids with antimicrobials over this time period, and potent or very potent preparations were prescribed for 923/5818 (15.9%).