Term
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Definition
| Inherited predisposition to asthma, allergies, and dermatitis, acute, subacute, or chornic relapsing skin disorder that usually begins in infancy |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of atopy? |
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Definition
| Dry skin and superficial, intensely pruritic, erythematous skin lesions, constant rubbing and scratching leads to lichenification and further itching |
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Term
| What are some eliciting factors of atopy? |
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Definition
| Inhalants such as aeroallergens (dust mites and pollens), microbial agents such as exotoxins of S. aureus may act as super antigens that stimulate T cells and macrophages, auto-allaergens such as Sera IgE antibodies released from damaged tissue, food, skin barrier disruptions, infections, season (winter worse), clothing (wool), emotional stress |
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Term
| How does type I (IgE-mediated) hypersensitivity occur in atopy? |
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Definition
| As a result of the release of vasoactive substances from both mast cells and basophils that have been sensitized by the interaction of the antigen with IgE |
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Term
| How do skin acute lesions appear in atopic dermatitis? |
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Definition
| Poorly defined erythematous patches, papules, and plaques with or without scale, edema with widespread involvement, skin is puffy, erosions, oozing, moist, crusted, linear or punctate from scratching |
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Term
| How do chronic skin lesions appear in atopic dermatitis? |
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Definition
| Lichenification (thickening of the skin with accentuation of skin markings) due to repeated scratching, fissures esp in flexures on palms, fingers, and soles, alopecia, periorbital pigmentation, Dennie-Morgan sign (infraorbital fold in the eyelids) |
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Term
| What is characteristic of infantile atopic dermatitis? |
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Definition
| Typically on face, lesion presents as red skin, tiny vesicles on puffy surface, scaling, exudation with wet crusts and cracks |
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Term
| What is characteristic of childhood and adult type atopic dermatitis? |
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Definition
| Typically present on flexor surfaces, lesions are papular, lichenified plaques, erosions, crusts, scaling, exudation with wet crusts and cracks |
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Term
| How is atopic dermatitis diagnosed? |
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Definition
| History in infancy, clinical findings, lab examinations (increased IgE in serum, eosinophilia) |
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Term
| How do S. aureus and herpes simplex affect atopic dermatitis? |
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Definition
| S. aureus infection leads to extensive erosions and crusting, herpes simplex infection leads to eczema herpeticum which may be life threatening |
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Term
| How is atopic dermatitis acutely managed? |
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Definition
| Wet dressings and topical glucocorticoids, topical antibiotics, hydroxyzine for pruritis, oral antibiotics to eliminate S. aereus and treat MRSA according to sensitivity |
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Term
| How is subacute and chronic atopic dermatitis managed? |
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Definition
| Hydration, topical anti-inflammatory agents such as glucocorticoids and tar, UVA-UVB phototherapy, PUVA photochemotherapy, nonstaroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ATOPICLAIR |
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Term
| What gives atopiclair its anti-piuritic and anti-inflammatory properties? |
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Definition
| 2% glycerrhetinic acid, 18-beta-GrA is the major active metabolite |
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Term
| What is the most powerful moisturizing agent known? |
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Definition
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