Atopic dermatitis in Sri Lanka - a study of 50 consecutive patients

50 consecutive patients with atopic dermatitis presenting at the dermatology clinics at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital were studied. The age of onset of the disease was less than 1 year in 20% and less than 5 years in 84% of the children. The chief aggravating factor in our patients was hot weather and sweating (44%). Food played only a marginal role as an aggravating factor (12%). The patterns of distribution of the disease agreed with established clinical patterns. The face was involved in 100% of the patients under one year, and the extensors of the lower limbs in all those under 8 years. The commonest stigmata of atopic dermatitis in our children was pityriasis alba (52%) and the Dennie-Morgan fold (24%). A relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the onset and severity of atopic dermatitis could not be established. A quick and ready method of assessing the extent and severity of atopic dermatitis, an 'atopic score' is suggested.