Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment
Published on: September 27, 2017
Atopic dermatitis in early life and pain at 10 years of age: An exploratory study
Vanessa Gorito1,2,3, Maria Brandão1, Inês Azevedo1,3,4
1EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública e Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 050-600, Porto, Portugal.
Insights
Early childhood atopic dermatitis symptoms increase the risk of pain in children by age 10. This suggests a potential long-term sensitization process that warrants further investigation and improved healthcare for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Dermatology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Atopic disorders, including atopic dermatitis, are linked to comorbidities like chronic pain.
- Shared inflammatory pathways exist between pain and atopic dermatitis.
- Skin inflammation, scratching, and fissures in atopic dermatitis can directly cause pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term impact of early-life atopic dermatitis symptoms on pain profiles in children.
- To assess if childhood atopic disease sensitizes children to adverse pain experiences later in life.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Generation XXI birth cohort (1302 and 874 participants at 6 and 15 months, and 10 years).
- Collected data on atopy-like symptoms (including atopic dermatitis) at 6 and 15 months via parental interviews.
- Assessed pain history at age 10 using structured questionnaires for parents and children.
Main Results:
- Children with atopic dermatitis-like symptoms at 6 months had a higher risk of reporting any pain at age 10 (RR 1.75 [1.15-2.66]).
- Children with atopic dermatitis-like symptoms at 15 months showed an increased risk of multisite pain at age 10 (RR 1.67 [1.18-2.37]).
Conclusions:
- Early-life atopic dermatitis symptoms are associated with an increased risk of pain at age 10.
- Findings suggest a potential sensitization process during childhood, highlighting the need for improved healthcare for children with atopic dermatitis.
- Further research into management targets for itching and pain relief is recommended to prevent long-term consequences.
Abstract:
Pain is a distinctive burden in atopic dermatitis and recognized as an important and highly prevalent symptom. It is unknown if the presence of atopic disease may sensitize children to adverse pain profiles in the long term. We aimed to assess the impact of early-life atopic dermatitis-like symptoms on pain at 10 years of age. We used data from 1302 and 874 participants of the Generation XXI birth cohort evaluated at 6 and 15 months, respectively, and 10 years. Atopy-like symptoms since birth, including atopic dermatitis, were collected at ages 6 and 15 months by interviewing parents. Pain history in the last 3 months at age 10 was collected from parents and children using structured questionnaires. We computed relative risks (RR) and respective 95% confidence intervals of pain features at age 10 according to each atopic-like symptom at 6 and 15 months. Children whose parents reported atopic dermatitis-like symptoms at 6 months and at 15 months had higher risk of reporting any pain (RR 1.75 [1.15-2.66]) and multisite pain, respectively (RR 1.67 [1.18-2.37]) at 10 years of age. Conclusion: Atopic dermatitis symptoms in early life were associated with a higher risk of pain at age 10, suggesting that potential for sensitization during the first decade of life and highlighting the importance of improving the health care of children with atopic dermatitis is worth investigating. What is Known: • Atopic disorders have been associated with many non-atopic comorbidities, including chronic pain. • Pain and atopic dermatitis share common inflammatory pathways. Inflammation, injury to the skin from scratching, fissures, and intolerance to irritants related to atopic dermatitis can cause pain. What is New: • Atopic dermatitis in early life is linked to an increased likelihood of experiencing pain at the age of 10, which suggests that exploring the potential for sensitization is a worthwhile area of investigation. • Our proof-of-concept study highlights the potential benefit of studying management targets and improving itching and relieving skin pain as quickly as possible, avoiding potential long-term consequences of the sensitization process.
