Boom of the cutaneous allergies

Boom of the cutaneous allergies
Atopic Dermatite, eczema, urticaria… The cutaneous allergic demonstrations are numerous. Although the data miss to evaluate the evolution of this problem, the figures available testify to a boom of this phenomenon.

Just like other atopic demonstrations (rhinitis, food allergy…), the cutaneous allergies are in increase. Zoom on these French who are badly in their skin.

Atopic Dermatite: more than one child out of ten concerned

The atopic dermatite or eczema atopic is an inflammatory cutaneous disease, often of allergic origin. It assigns the infant preferentially and results in a cutaneous dryness. In increase since a score of years, this disorder preferentially touches the countries developed and the populations with high standard of living. An observation which constitutes an argument in favor of the theory hygienist, according to which pediatric infections banales1 confer a certain protection with respect to the allergies and their absence a greater sensitivity.

Published in November 2002 by the French company of dermatology, the new edition of the White paper of dermatology brings back to a total rate of 12,5% children suffering from dermatite atopic whereas the percentage of subjects reached does not exceed 2,1% among the adults. Besides a third of these affections seen in dermatology of city would have an important repercussion and 4,9% a repercussion majeur2.

Older, international study ISAAC of 1999 provides other figures, which make it possible to appreciate the frequency of the disease in older children. Result of the French analysis based on more than 27.000 questionnaires: 8,8% of the children from 6 to 7 years and 10% of the teenagers from 13 to 14 ans1 are concerned with the atopic dermatite.

Lastly, when one questions them on their dermatological problems, 18,3% of the French pay to suffer from eczema, a disease less well defined than the term of dermatite atopic. According to them, eczema would touch more half of the children of less than 2 years (52,8%) 3.

15 to 20% of the French knew a push of urticaria

But of other cutaneous diseases with allergic component are also widespread. The French dermatologists estimate thus that nearly 15% of the children and 4,2% of the adults seen in consultations are allergic. Intended to relieve the allergic diseases, the antihistamines are thus prescribed to 6,3% of the patients going to a consultation dermatology libérale2.

The experts also consider that at least 15 to 20% of the population developed an acute push of urticaria during its vie4. These demonstrations, which seem to be in half of the allergic case of nature, would determine 1 to 2% of the consultations of dermatology and study of allergies.

The most usual causes of these allergic urticarias are represented by the food (eggs, fish, pig, milk, shellfish, tomatos, strawberries, chocolate…) and of the drugs (penicillin, anti-inflammatory drugs not stéroïdiens, inhibiters of the enzyme of conversion…). The medicamentous allergies seem underestimated because they always do not give quite typical cutaneous reactions. In the investigation of the French company of dermatology, 7,6% of the questioned French stated to present this type of allergie3.

But, one can also observe urticarias of contact after sensitizing to latex, capillary products, the cosmetics or industrial products.

Dr. Corinne Tutin

1 – Conference of consensus of the French company of dermatology on the “assumption of responsibility of the atopic dermatite of the child”, October 20th, 2004.
2 – White paper of dermatology, edition of November 2002.
3 – Inquire undertaken by the French company of dermatology in March and April 2002 with the assistance of Sofrès near more than 10.000 French hearths.
4 – Conference of consensus of the French company of dermatology undertaken under the aegis of the National agency of accreditation and evaluation in health on the “assumption of responsibility of chronic urticaria”, January 8th, 2003.