Ten-year prognosis for generalized infantile eczema.
Forty children treated in our hospital for generalized infantile eczema were re-examined at 11-13 years of age. In 7 (18%) children the eczema had disappeared and in 26 (65%) it had become less severe. Unrelated to dermatological status or gender, allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 31 (78%) and asthma in 21 (53%) children. Only 8 children continued without either of these two conditions. All 32 children with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma showed at least one positive skin test reaction in a test panel of 11 common inhalant and food allergens compared with only 4 of 8 children without either allergic rhinitis or asthma (p < 0.001). Our results showed an improvement of dermatological status in most children with generalized infantile eczema but there was a high risk of a concomitant respiratory allergy and development of allergic rhinitis or asthma.
Linna
O
O
Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland.
Kokkonen
J
J
Lahtela
P
P
Tammela
O
O
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology