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Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most frequent inflammatory skin disease in childhood. Atopic dermatitis, as the first manifestation of atopic march may continue as asthma and allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early prognosis of AD in children. Material and Methods: Children who were diagnosed with AD before three years old between March 2009 and January 2012, and were followed for at least 2 years in the Pediatric Allergy Department of our tertiary hospital were enrolled in this study. Persistence of AD symptoms and development of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were explored. Results: One hundred and four patients (59 male, 45 female) were included in the study. Atopic dermatitis persisted in 14 (13.5%) patients. Fourteen patients (13.5%) developed allergic rhinitis and 16 (15.4%) patients developed asthma. Food allergy was found to be a risk factor for persistence of AD lesions (OR (5.1) CI (1.4-18.3) (p=0.011).The presence of parental asthma (OR (6.2) (1.4-27.6) p=0,015) and persistence of AD lesions (OR (7.2) (1.7-34.9) p=0.007) were found to be risk factors for the development of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Persistence of atopic dermatitis and development of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were significantly lower in our study group than in the literature. Long-term follow-up of patients with AD is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with cutaneous hyperreactivity to various environmental triggers including allergens, chemicals and infections. Atopic dermatitis is often the initial step in 'atopic march'. Atopic dermatitis might be a cutaneous manifestation of a systemic disorder that also continues with food allergy and wheezing episodes in infancy period, and gives rise to asthma and allergic rhinitis. Severe atopic dermatitis is seen particulary in children with filaggrin (FLG) gene mutation and/or early beginning symptoms in high risky infants with a history of familial atopy. The diagnosis is based on the clinical findings, and an objective laboratory test does not exist. Therefore, it is important to determine the severity of atopic dermatitis with a validated clinical severity scoring index to predict both future development of allergic diseases and also possible fatal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]