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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
'''Atopic dermatitis''' is an [[atopy|atopic]], hereditary, and non-contagious skin disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that occurs primarily in children, but also affects adults, usually with a personal or family history of atopy including  asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Atopic dermatitis presents usually with intense pruritus and is often associated with elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE).
==Historical Perspective==
==Historical Perspective==
Since the twentieth century, many mucosal inflammatory disorders have become dramatically more common; atopic eczema (AE) is a classic example of such a disease.
The term Atopic dermatitis was first coined by Fred Wise and Marion Sulzberger, American dermatologists, in 1933 and the first widely used diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis was published by Jon Hanifin and Georg Rajka, in 1980.
==Causes==
==Causes==
Although it is an inherited disease, eczema is primarily aggravated by contact with or intake of allergens.  It can also be influenced by other "hidden" factors such as [[stress]] or [[fatigue]].  Atopic eczema consists of chronic inflammation; it occurs in people with a history of allergy disorders such as [[asthma]] or [[hay fever]].
Although it is an inherited disease, eczema is primarily aggravated by contact with or intake of allergens.  It can also be influenced by other "hidden" factors such as [[stress]] or [[fatigue]].  Atopic eczema consists of chronic inflammation; it occurs in people with a history of allergy disorders such as [[asthma]] or [[hay fever]].


==Epidemiology and Demographics==
==Epidemiology and Demographics==
It now affects 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults in industrialized countries, and its prevalence there has more than doubled in the past thirty years.<ref name=saito>Saito, Hirohisa. Much Atopy about the Skin: Genome-Wide Molecular Analysis of Atopic Eczema.  International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2005;137:319-325.</ref>
It now affects 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults in industrialized countries, and its prevalence there has more than doubled in the past thirty years.<ref name="saito">Saito, Hirohisa. Much Atopy about the Skin: Genome-Wide Molecular Analysis of Atopic Eczema.  International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2005;137:319-325.</ref>
 
Atopic dermatitis incidence is highest during infancy and early childhood. Majority of atopic dermatitis patients has onset of an onset <5 years of age.The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is approximately 5,000-20,000 cases per 100,000 children worldwide. In 2003, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis was estimated to be 10700 cases per 100,000 children in United States.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
===Other Diagnostic Studies===
===Diagnostic Studies===
An allergy skin-patch or "scratch" test, given by an allergist, can often pinpoint the triggers of allergic reactions. Once the causes of the [[allergic reaction]]s are discovered, the allergens should be eliminated from the diet, lifestyle, and/or environment. If the [[eczema]] is severe, it may take some time (days to weeks depending on the severity) for the body's [[immune system]] to begin to settle down after the irritants are withdrawn.
Due to the variable morphology, distribution of skin lesions and intermittent clinical features, it is very challenging to define the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is primarily diagnosed based on the clinical presentation. Currently, the most used criteria worldwide is published by United Kingdom working group and is based upon history, morphology and distribution of eczematous lesions, and clinical features of atopic dermatitis.  
 
In patients with atopic dermatitis, to rule out other skin conditions, histology examination of a [[skin biopsy]] and other laboratory tests (eg, [[Immunoglobulin E|serum immunoglobulin E]], [[KOH test|potassium hydroxide preparation]], patch testing, [[genetic testing]]) can be considered.


==Treatment==
==Treatment==
===Medical Therapy===
===Medical Therapy===
The primary treatment involves prevention, which includes avoiding or minimizing contact with (or intake of) known allergens. Once that has been established, topical treatments can be used.  
The mainstay of treatment for atopic dermatitis depends upon the severity of the disease and is treated with a combination of conservative and medical therapy. The goals of treatment include elimination of aggravating factors, skin barrier function repair, maintaining skin hydration and pharmacologic treatment of skin inflammation. Pharmacologic medical therapies for atopic dermatitis can be classified according to the several severity scales( (i.e SCORAD index, the eczema area and severity index [EASI], and the patient-oriented eczema measure [POEM]).
Topical treatments focus on reducing both the dryness and [[inflammation]] of the [[skin]].
===Primary Prevention===
===Primary Prevention===
Although there is no cure for atopic eczema, treatment should mainly involve discovering the triggers of [[allergic reaction]]s and learning to prevent them.
Primary prevention applies to the patients with history of other atopic diseases and has not been diagnosed with atopic dermatits yet. Its primary goal is to reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in the future. Approaches to reduce development of atopic dermatitis in children usually includes minimization of administration of [[antibiotics]] in infants and infections in [[infants]].
==References==
==References==



Revision as of 13:42, 17 October 2018

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that occurs primarily in children, but also affects adults, usually with a personal or family history of atopy including asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Atopic dermatitis presents usually with intense pruritus and is often associated with elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Historical Perspective

The term Atopic dermatitis was first coined by Fred Wise and Marion Sulzberger, American dermatologists, in 1933 and the first widely used diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis was published by Jon Hanifin and Georg Rajka, in 1980.

Causes

Although it is an inherited disease, eczema is primarily aggravated by contact with or intake of allergens. It can also be influenced by other "hidden" factors such as stress or fatigue. Atopic eczema consists of chronic inflammation; it occurs in people with a history of allergy disorders such as asthma or hay fever.

Epidemiology and Demographics

It now affects 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults in industrialized countries, and its prevalence there has more than doubled in the past thirty years.[1]

Atopic dermatitis incidence is highest during infancy and early childhood. Majority of atopic dermatitis patients has onset of an onset <5 years of age.The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is approximately 5,000-20,000 cases per 100,000 children worldwide. In 2003, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis was estimated to be 10700 cases per 100,000 children in United States.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Studies

Due to the variable morphology, distribution of skin lesions and intermittent clinical features, it is very challenging to define the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is primarily diagnosed based on the clinical presentation. Currently, the most used criteria worldwide is published by United Kingdom working group and is based upon history, morphology and distribution of eczematous lesions, and clinical features of atopic dermatitis.

In patients with atopic dermatitis, to rule out other skin conditions, histology examination of a skin biopsy and other laboratory tests (eg, serum immunoglobulin E, potassium hydroxide preparation, patch testing, genetic testing) can be considered.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

The mainstay of treatment for atopic dermatitis depends upon the severity of the disease and is treated with a combination of conservative and medical therapy. The goals of treatment include elimination of aggravating factors, skin barrier function repair, maintaining skin hydration and pharmacologic treatment of skin inflammation. Pharmacologic medical therapies for atopic dermatitis can be classified according to the several severity scales( (i.e SCORAD index, the eczema area and severity index [EASI], and the patient-oriented eczema measure [POEM]).

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention applies to the patients with history of other atopic diseases and has not been diagnosed with atopic dermatits yet. Its primary goal is to reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in the future. Approaches to reduce development of atopic dermatitis in children usually includes minimization of administration of antibiotics in infants and infections in infants.

References

  1. Saito, Hirohisa. Much Atopy about the Skin: Genome-Wide Molecular Analysis of Atopic Eczema. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2005;137:319-325.


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