Author/Editor		Podrumac, Božana; Mervič, Liljana
Title		Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis
Type		članek
Source		In: Proceedings of the 5th F. Kogoj memorial symposium; 2005 Jun 10-11; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Klinični center, Dermatovenerološka klinika,
Publication year		2005
Volume		str. 18-25
Language		eng
Abstract		No specific laboratory findings or histologic features define atopic dermatitis. The diagnosis is a clinical one. The invariable symptom is pruritus. Atopic dermatitis may be acute, subacute or chronic and the distribution of the rash typically varies with age. Patients with atopic dermatitis are prone to bacterial, fungal and viral infections of the skin. Diagnostic criteria were first published by Hanifin and Rajka in 1980 and included four major features and many associated findings. For establishing the diagnosis the individual must have three or more major features and three or more minor features. Many other diagnostic criteria have also been elaborated. The differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is extensive. Scabies must always be excluded. Seborrheic dermatitis and other eczematous skin diseases should be considered. Malignancies as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in adults or histiocytosis X in children may mimic atopic dermatitis. Immunodeficiency states and other skin diseases such as acrodermatitis entheropathica should also be taken into consideration.
Descriptors		DERMATITIS, ATOPIC PRURITUS SCABIES DERMATITIS, SEBORRHEIC DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL