Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Related Articles

Dermatitis artefacta in a child.

Pediatr Dermatol. 2007 Sep-Oct;24(5):E51-6

Authors: Finore ED, Andreoli E, Alfani S, Palermi G, Pedicelli C, Paradisi M

The high visibility of dermatologic diseases and their easy accessibility make the skin a primary and direct target for dysfunctional behaviors. Self-harm tendencies can frequently be expressed through dermatologic lesions, and dermatitis artefacta falls within this clinical frame. The occurrence of this cutaneous manifestation in children is very rare, with a peak of greater frequency in adolescence. We describe the characteristics of a multidisciplinary intervention-dermatologic and psychologic. Our pediatric patient displays a dermatologic picture that has no etiologic confirmation. The source of this disorder must therefore be found in socio-relational difficulties within the family and school environments, which lead the patient to self-harm behaviors that have a high communication value.

PMID: 17958781 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Diaper dermatitis-frequency and contributory factors in hospital attending children.

Pediatr Dermatol. 2007 Sep-Oct;24(5):483-8

Authors: Adalat S, Wall D, Goodyear H

The incidence and prevalence of diaper dermatitis varies widely between published studies. It is a condition which causes considerable parental anxiety. To better understand the frequency of diaper dermatitis, treatment practices, and the current importance of previously identified etiologic factors, a questionnaire survey of parents who had children wearing diapers (n = 532) attending a large United Kingdom district general hospital was undertaken. At the time of survey, only 16% of the study population had diaper dermatitis. Forty-eight percent of the study population had never had an episode of diaper dermatitis. In a multivariate analysis, current diaper dermatitis was independently associated with four factors: presence of oral thrush, number of previous episodes, frequency of diaper changes, and diarrhea. Recurrent episodes of diaper dermatitis were associated with increasing age, lack of barrier cream use, current diaper rash, and frequency of diaper changes. In the majority of children with diaper dermatitis at the time of survey, treatment had been instituted in the community. Diaper dermatitis usually presents and is treated successfully outside the hospital setting and is not a common clinical problem in secondary care.

PMID: 17958792 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Getting more and more complex: the pathophysiology of atopic eczema.

Eur J Dermatol. 2007 Jul-Aug;17(4):267-83

Authors: Maintz L, Novak N

Atopic eczema (AE) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic, typically distributed eczematous skin lesions. Deficiencies in innate and adaptive immunity based on a genetic predisposition result in skin barrier dysfunction with hyperreactivity to environmental stimuli and susceptibility to skin infections which influence the course and severity of AE. In this review, we provide an overview of the complex pathophysiology of AE with a focus on recent advances published in this field.

PMID: 17540632 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Is metronidazole 0.75% gel effective in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis? A double-blind, placebo controlled study.

Eur J Dermatol. 2007 Jul-Aug;17(4):313-6

Authors: Ozcan H, Seyhan M, Yologlu S

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of metronidazole 0.75% gel in patients with mild and moderate seborrhoeic dermatitis. Sixty-seven patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis were enrolled. Cases were randomly treated with metronidazole 0.75% gel or placebo for four weeks and were additionally followed up for another four weeks. Patients were evaluated by scoring before the treatment, once a week during the treatment and twice after the cessation of the treatment within a 15-day interval. Furthermore, patient satisfaction and doctor global evaluation were done at the end of the treatment and of the study as well. In the metronidazole group 33 patients (median age: 26, total severity score: 15.0 +/- 11.0 (median +/- interquartile range) and in the placebo group 34 patients (median age: 26, total severity score: 13.0 +/- 7.5) were enrolled in the study. Three patients from the metronidazole group and four patients from the placebo group did not attend to follow-up visits. Erythema, scales, papule, pruritus and the total severity scores in both group decreased significantly during the treatment when compared with the basal levels (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of efficacy (p > 0.05). Total severity scores were found as 7.33 +/- 1.08 and 6.43 +/- 0.93 in the metronidazole and placebo groups at the end of the treatment, respectively. After the cessation of the treatment, all scores had increased rapidly. Total severity scores were 10.40 +/- 1.54 and 11.20 +/- 1.53 in the metronidazole and placebo groups one month after the cessation of the treatment, respectively. Both metronidazole 0.75% gel and the placebo were well tolerated by the patients. In conclusion, in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis, administration of metronidazole 0.75% gel is well tolerated but it is only as effective as placebo and the disease severity quickly returns to the basal levels after the cessation of treatment.

PMID: 17540638 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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