Natural history and risk factors of atopic dermatitis in children

• Published in: Allergy, asthma & immunology research Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 101 - 105
• Main Author: Pyun, Bok Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology; The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease 01.03.2015; 대한천식알레르기학회
• Subjects: Review; 내과학; atopic dermatitis; children; risk factor; Natural history
• ISSN: 2092-7355; 2092-7363
• DOI: 10.4168/aair.2015.7.2.101

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory allergic diseases with pruritic skin lesions particularly in infancy. It is considered to be the first step of atopic march and has variable disease courses. Many children with AD may resolve their AD symptoms with increasing age and may develop respiratory allergies such as asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis at certain ages. Natural course of AD has been supported by many cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in many countries. In general, atopic dermatitis tends to be more severe and persistent in young children, particularly if they have some risk factors including genetic factors. It appears that approximately 40%-70% of childhood AD will get resolved when they reach the age of 6-7 years. However, it is also observed that over half of the children with AD developed respiratory allergy during late childhood.