Smallpox vaccination and eczema.

Smallpox has disappeared from all countries except Ethiopia and the possibility of its eradication appears within reach. The need for vaccination of eczema patients against smallpox appears to be ending. Eczema vaccinatum is a rare but sometimes fatal complication of smallpox vaccination in atopic aczema and its incidence is discussed. Precautions in vaccinating atopic eczema patients include suitable treatment of the eczema, injection of vaccinial immunoglobulin and testing the competence of humoral and cellular immunity.