title: [Atopic dermatitis].
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial skin disease with a chronic or a chronic-relapsing course which often starts during infancy. The persistence rate of AD after the puberty is certainly higher than mostly assumed. 60% of the patients also develop respiratory atopies as hay fever or bronchial asthma. The etiology of this distressing skin condition is still obscure, but an immunological disturbance of the T-cell immune response is most probably implicated in its pathogenesis. The demonstration of IgE-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells with high-affinity receptors for IgE opens up new perspectives in its pathophysiology. As no efficient treatment of AD is known and a symptomatic treatment, local with emolients, corticosteroids and/or disinfectants as well as internal with antihistamines, is often difficult and unsatisfactory, prevention is of particular importance. The efficacy of prolonged breast-feeding, a strict prohibition of cow milk, egg, fish--during the first six months of life--and of keeping pets as well as a consequent treatment against house-dust mites can reduce the incidence of AD in 'at risk' children with a family history of atopy. Besides symptomatic treatment a substitution of essential fatty acids, a UV therapy and a climate therapy are other possible approaches in the management of such patients.
authors.affiliation: Allergiestation der Dermatologischen Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wüthrich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007223:Infant; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D010328:Patch Tests; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
vernacular_title: Atopische Dermatitis.