Atopijski dermatitis u djece

Atopijski dermatitis (poznat i pod nazivima neurodermitis, atopijski ekcem ili endogeni ekcem) česti je oblik upale kože koji se javlja u 15-20% djece širom svijeta[1]. Točan uzrok bolesti je nepoznat, ali se uglavnom smatra da je bolest posljedica međudjelovanja više čimbenika kao što su nasljeđe, čimbenici okoliša, poremećaj integriteta barijere kože i imunološki čimbenici. Atopija je genetska sklonost nastanku alergijskih bolesti i zato se atopijski dermatitis često javlja udružen s drugim alergijskim bolestima kao što su alergija na hranu, bronhalna astma, alergijski rinits i konjunktivitis [4]. Obično se prvi put javlja između 3. i 6. mjeseca života, odnosno u polovice bolesnika bolest počinje do kraja 1. godine života[12]. Kod većine se bolesnika simptomi bolesti povuku do puberteta, ali određeni broj oboljelih ima doživotno tegobe. Intenzitet bolesti najčešće s godinama slabi, tako da do sedme godine 50 % djece više nema simptome, odnosno do adolescentne dobi njih 70 % ozdravi[11]. Liječenje je dugotrajno i uključuje pravilnu njegu kože, prepoznavanje i izbjegavanje čimbenika pogoršanja, te terapiju akutnih pogoršanja ekcema.Uspjeh liječenja ovisi o dobroj suradnji dermatologa i roditelja, koji moraju biti dobro educirani o prirodi ove bolesti, potencijalnim čimbenicima koji ju pogoršavaju, kao i o važnosti pravilne njege kože i u fazama upale i u razdobljima bez znakova bolesti. Većina oboljele djece, uz dobru dijagnozu te pravilno liječenje i njegu kože, uz izbjegavanje potvrđenih alergena i iritansa – imaju tek blaže tegobe.Atopic dermatitis (also known as neurodermatitis, atopic eczema or endogenous eczema) is a common form of skin imflammation that occurs in 15-20% of children worldwide [1]. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but it is believed that the disease is a consequence of interaction of several factors such as inheritance, environmental factors, disruption of the integrity of the skin barrier and immune factors. Atopy is a genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases and therefore, atopic dermatitis often occurs in association with other allergic diseases such as food allergies, bronchial asthma, allergic rinits and conjunctivitis[4]. It usually first appears between 3 and 6 months of age, and in half of the patients the disease begins by the end of the first year of life[12]. In most patients the symptoms subside until puberty, but a certain number of patients have lifelong problems.The intensity of the disease most often weakens with age, so that by the seventh year, 50% of children do not have symptoms anymore or until adolescence 70% of them are healed[11]. Treatment is long and includes a proper skin care, recognizing and avoiding deterioration factors, and treatment of acute exacerbation of eczema. The success of the treatment depends on good cooperation between dermatologists and parents, who should be well educated about the nature of this disease, potential factors that exacerbate it, as well as the importance of proper skin care for the phases of inflammation in periods with no signs of the disease. Most of the affected children, with good diagnosis and proper treatment and skin care, by avoiding confirmed allergens and irritants - have only milder symptoms