INFRA-AURICULAR FISSURES IN ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Retro-auricular or auricular dermatitis in atopic dermatitis (AD) is c ommon and important for the diagnosis of AD in infancy and even in adu lthood. Particularly, ''infra-auricular fissures'', acute eczematous c hanges like fissures at the adhesive junction of ear lobes, seem to be prominent features for the diagnosis of AD. Of 137 patients with AD, 81.8% showed present or past existence of infra-auricular fissures, bu t only one of the 30 controls. Of the 46 patients with severe AD, 98% had infra-auricular fissures, compared to 74% in those with moderate a nd mild AD. Our findings suggest that infra-auricular fissures are imp ortant for the diagnosis of AD and should be cited in a list of criter ia for the diagnosis of AD.