Atopic Dermatitis and its Management by the First Contact Doctor
Authors/Creators
- 1. Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas "Francisco García Salinas", Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud. Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México.
- 2. Hospital General de Zona no. 1 Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Dr Emilio Varela Luján. Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
- 3. Hospital General Regional Tecamac 200 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Sierra Hermosa, México
Description
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects a large number of pediatric patients between 2 and 17 years of age. Typical symptoms include intense itching, erythema, and scaling of the skin. Atopic dermatitis has been found to be associated with decreased quality of life for patients and their families. Diagnosis is made by clinical evaluation and differential diagnosis with other dermatologic diseases.
Treatment is based on the severity of the disease and the age of the patient. Topical treatments are the first line of treatment, while systemic treatments are reserved for patients with severe atopic dermatitis who do not respond to topical treatments. In addition, other treatments, such as light therapy, biological therapy and allergen-specific immunotherapy, have been evaluated in patients with atopic dermatitis. A multidisciplinary approach and appropriate patient and family education are critical to the successful management of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients.
Article