title: The clinical effects of hospitalization in a low pollutant room on atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Environmental pollutants are thought to be one of major triggers of atopic dermatitis (AD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to evaluate the clinical effects of environment with low indoor pollutant levels on AD management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one children (mean age 1.7 years) with moderate to severe AD who failed to show improvement with conventional management were recruited. Disease severity was assessed by SCORAD (Scoring of AD) indices. They were admitted in a low pollutant oom for 3-4 days (mean 3.3 days) which was designed to keep low levels of dust, house dust mites, micro-organisms, and indoor air pollutants such as total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (PM), and so on. Air pollutant levels in the low pollutant room were lower than primary standards defined by the Korean Ministry of Environment. we compared disease severity on admission and after discharge, and the pollutant levels of each patient's home and low pollutant room.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SCORAD was significantly reduced from 42.0 ± 11 .5 to 29.8 ± 8.9 (p < 0.001) by management in a low pollutant room. PM(2.5), PM(10), formaldehyde, TVOCs, carbon dioxide, bacterial suspensions, and indoor molds were significantly higher in the patient's home than low pollutant room. Out of 29 patients who deteriorated after discharge to their home, 8 patients were admitted again, and their SCORAD was rapidly decreased from 53.1 ± 16.2 to 39.2 ± 9.8 (p = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indoor air pollutants are likely to affect AD in susceptible individuals. Environmental control to lower indoor air pollutant levels might be necessary for better management of AD in some patients.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Gwangmyeong Sungae Hospital, Gwangmyeong 423-033, Korea.
authors: Jung Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Jihyun
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Woon
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: Jungmin
authors: J
authors: Suh
authors: Jung Seok
authors: JS
authors: Yu
authors: Eunah
authors: E
authors: Park
authors: Jinyoung
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Hyunmi
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Kwang Shin
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Eun Young
authors: EY
authors: Chang
authors: Joong Bum
authors: JB
authors: Cho
authors: Kyo Boong
authors: KB
authors: Kim
authors: Youngshin
authors: Y
authors: Han
authors: Kangmo
authors: K
authors: Ahn
authors: Sang-Il
authors: SI
authors: Lee