[Summary of the practice guideline 'Atopic dermatitis' (first revision) from the Dutch College of General Practitioners].
The 1996 practice guideline on atopic dermatitis from the Dutch College of General Practitioners has been updated. For diagnosing atopic dermatitis, the use of Williams' criteria is recommended. Testing for food allergy is only useful in case of children under the age of 2 who have other food-related allergic complaints together with dermatitis. In the treatment of atopic dermatitis, keeping the skin in good condition with emollients is essential; furthermore, topical corticosteroids are the therapy of first choice. In case of a severe exacerbation of atopic dermatitis, starting with a class 3 corticosteroid is preferred. In case of frequent recurrences, 'pulse-therapy' is indicated: topical corticosteroids on 2-4 consecutive days per week as maintenance therapy. The role of preparations from tar is marginal. The use of the topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in general practice is discouraged.
Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, afd. Richtlijnontwikkeling en Wetenschapsbeleid, Postbus 3231, 3502 GE Utrecht. f.boukes@nhg.org
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Boukes
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Wiersma
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Cleveringa
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Dirven-Meijer
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Goudswaard
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012955:Societies, Medical
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones