EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ATOPIC ECZEMA IN A DERMAT OLOGY OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT- COMPARING 1981 TO 1989

In order to identify a possible increase in the frequency of atopic ec zema at a university dermatology outpatient department, the medical re cords of all patients with this diagnosis seen in 1981 and 1989 were a nalyzed regarding various clinical aspects. The percentage of atopic e czema patients remained almost equal (2.6% and 2.7%, respectively), bu r more female patients were seen in the age group up to 10 and more fe males and patients overall in the third decade of life. In the patient history, there was a higher naming of food as a possible aggravating factor and a lower frequency of associated other atopic diseases in 19 89, with also an increased frequency of allergic asthma in the family history. With regard to therapy, significantly more patients received topical steroids in 1989 (70.3% vs 37.5%), but with a shift to more no n-halogenated compounds. Although there was thus no increase in the fr equency of atopic eczema among dermatological outpatients over an eigh t year period, there were clear shifts regarding sex and age distribut ion as well as possible causes and treatment. The significance of thes e findings needs to be further examined prospectively.