New treatments for atopic dermatitis

Williams, Hywel

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis now affects 15% to 20% of chil­dren in developed countries, and prevalence in cities in developing countries undergoingrapid demographic changes is quickly following suit. [1] Most cases of atopic dermatitis in a given communityare mild, but children with moderate to severe diseasecan have continuous itching and associated loss of sleep. The social stigma of a visible skin disease can alsobe soul destroying for both patient and family. A few studies have suggested that some degree of preventionof the disease is possible, [2] although these measures have not been taken up widely. In the absence of any treatment that is known to alter the clinical course of the disease, most treatment is aimed at reducing symp­toms and signs. After a relative lull of almost 40 years, new drugs — tacrolimus and pimecrolimus — have appeared that offer different approaches to managing this miserable disease. Do they work? Are they safe? And how do they compare with existing treatments?

Citation

Williams, H. (2002). New treatments for atopic dermatitis. British medical journal, 324,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 29, 2002
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 20, 2008
• Journal: British Medical Journal
• Print ISSN: 0007-1447
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 324
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/702992