Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common, multifactorial, and extremely complex disorder, should be examined from various points of view, and it requires all the skill a physician can gather because it can be a challenge for pediatricians, dermatologists, and allergists. The role of dietary factors in AD has long been a subject of controversies, and several investigators have demonstrated the effectiveness of elimination diets in the management of AD. The treatment of choice for AD due to food sensitivity (FS) is the elimination of the offending food(s). This can be easily achieved when the child is allergic to foods that are not common items in the diet or when the offending food is not an important nutrient. Problems arise when the child is allergic to food(s) common in the diet and/or that have a high nutritional value, SCG, the salt of a bischromone carboxylic acid, has been shown to be of some efficacy in the prophylaxis of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other disorders associated with mast cell degranulation, such as mastocytosis. We reviewed 12 papers on the use of SCG in the management of AD children, which included 281 children aged 0.5 to 15 years. Analysis of the studies shows that five were carried out in the open, one in the single-blind, six in the double-blind fashion. Four out of five open trials yielded positive results, that is, SCG was effective in the management of AD. The double-blind studies were positive in three cases and negative in three. The only trial with doubtful results was conducted in the open fashion.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of atopic diseases in high risk babies (long-term follow-up).

Several studies have demonstrated that dietary and environmental manipulations in the first months of life have a protective effect on the development of allergic diseases in babies "at risk" of atopy. We have prospectively followed up 174 "high risk" infants who underwent dietary and environmental manipulations, such as exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life, supplemented if necessary with soy-protein formula (Isomil, Abbott), delayed weaning beyond the 6th month of life, and rigorous environmental manipulations for the elimination of house-dust mite and passive smoking. The low prevalence of atopic disease (10%) and the trivial course of the allergic manifestations in this "at risk" population confirm the effectiveness of this preventive program. Moreover, this study demonstrates that the incidence of atopic dermatitis peaks at 6 months, and decreases until it disappears. Food allergy appears only at 6 months and may disappear later. The incidence of asthma peaks at 6 and 36 months and decreases at low levels in the intervals. Allergic rhinitis develops not sooner than 36 months.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Blocking antibodies after specific hyposensitization therapy in asthmatic children (author's transl)].

The Maunsell-test for the evaluation in vivo of a rise in blocking antibodies after specific hyposensitization therapy was perfomed in 27 children with asthma and/or graminaceous rhinitis. The Authors have found a good correlation between blocking antibodies level and clinical improvement.

Adolescent↗