Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Early Skin Lesions Indicate Risk Of Atopic Eczema
Eczema at the arms and joints are the early skin lesions that are the most predictive of atopic dermatitis in young children, according to a new study.
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, indicates a hypersensitivity to something in the environment and may occur together with symptoms of asthma or hay fever. The condition is usually genetic, and may also be particularly severe during the winter months. The itchy, painful condition can affect just about any area of the body.
The current study involved 411 infants who were born to mothers with a history of asthma. During follow-up until 3 years of age, the subjects were seen every 6 months and whenever any skin symptoms presented. Fifty-five subjects had incomplete follow-up and were not included in all of the analyses.
Forty-four percent of the children had developed atopic dermatitis by 3 years of age, Dr. Hans Bisgaard, from Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues report. Disease occurrence peaked at 2 years of age in boys and at 2.5 years in girls, but no other gender-based differences were noted.
Atopic dermatitis in young children typically started in the scalp, forehead, ear, and neck, before moving on to the trunk and extremities, the authors note.
As noted, the best predictors of atopic dermatitis were early skin lesions of the arms and joints, the report indicates.
"This improved description of the progression of skin lesions facilitates early diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in infancy and allows studies examining the early intervention and prevention strategies," the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology May 2006.
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, indicates a hypersensitivity to something in the environment and may occur together with symptoms of asthma or hay fever. The condition is usually genetic, and may also be particularly severe during the winter months. The itchy, painful condition can affect just about any area of the body.
The current study involved 411 infants who were born to mothers with a history of asthma. During follow-up until 3 years of age, the subjects were seen every 6 months and whenever any skin symptoms presented. Fifty-five subjects had incomplete follow-up and were not included in all of the analyses.
Forty-four percent of the children had developed atopic dermatitis by 3 years of age, Dr. Hans Bisgaard, from Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues report. Disease occurrence peaked at 2 years of age in boys and at 2.5 years in girls, but no other gender-based differences were noted.
Atopic dermatitis in young children typically started in the scalp, forehead, ear, and neck, before moving on to the trunk and extremities, the authors note.
As noted, the best predictors of atopic dermatitis were early skin lesions of the arms and joints, the report indicates.
"This improved description of the progression of skin lesions facilitates early diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in infancy and allows studies examining the early intervention and prevention strategies," the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology May 2006.
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