title: Atopic dermatitis (AD) management in an Italian pediatric clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by dry skin and variable pruritus sometimes associated with allergic disease in other organs as asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis. AD affects deeply the Quality of Life, thus can be extremely disabling and may cause psychological problems for both affected children and their families.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to investigate the estimated prevalence of the disease and the beliefs of the Italian pediatricians, a group of 437 Italian family pediatricians covering a population of almost 380000 children participated in a study based on a questionnaire of 38 items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to answers of the participants, the incidence of AD has been estimated around 10% of the population and food allergy is believed to be the trigger of the acute phase of the disease in infants. As a second opinion, dermatologists are consulted more frequently than allergologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of emollients is advised in general whilst topical corticosteroids treatment is prescribed only in selected cases; more than 50% of pediatricians do not prescribe topical calcineurin inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Italian Federation of Pediatricians, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gelmetti
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baldessarri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calzaretti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candelori
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Amanti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Golinelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guttuso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Vecchia di Tocco
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sapia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russomando
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mele
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires