[Analysis of selected constitutional and environmental factors in patients with atopic dermatitis].

In 156 children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis retrospective analysis was carried out for establishing the effect of constitutional and environmental factors on the process of development and clinical course of this disease. It was demonstrated that the type of feeding during infancy was related to the beginning of the first symptoms. The onset of atopic dermatitis was earliest and most frequent in children with a history of only brief breast-feeding (up to 2 months) or fed with cow milk formulas since birth. Breast-feeding during 2-6 months delayed the onset of atopic dermatitis by about 2 months in relation to the former group. The effect of environmental factors manifested itself also as exacerbation of skin changes after contact with house dust, animal hairs, feathers and other antigens (fish food, contact with plants). At the same time positive results were observed of point tests with these allergens. A significant effect of the constitutional factor on the development of atopic dermatitis included familial occurrence of atopic diseases (mostly atopic dermatitis). Only 12.8% of the studied children had no family history of atopy.