[Clinical course of childhood atopic neurodermatitis. A catamnestic study of 121 cases]

121 patients who had been treated because of atopic dermatitis (AD) in 1967-1970 (at the age of 1-10 years) at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich (in- and outpatient department), were controlled by means of questionnaires, 62 of them were also personally examined. Interesting items were localisation of the AD, influences on its course, as well as micromanifestations. Infantile atopic eczema was most often localized on the face (65.3%) and on the hair-covered head (34%). The elbows and popliteal regions were attacked in 27% each. In 63% of the patients, personal examination revealed typical lesions of AD, mostly occurring on the elbows (59%) and popliteal areas (56.4%). Other common localisations were: wrist (34%), neck (31%), ankles (31%), eyelids (21%), as well as the areas behind the ears (13%). 73% of the patients had dry skin, only 8% showed a fatty one. In 66.7%, we observed the eczematic form of reaction, in 66.7% the lichenoid type, and in 10.3% the pruriginous form. 26% of the patients actually suffering from AD had perlèche or cheilitis exfoliativa, 54% of them showed follicular keratosis. 17% of the examined persons, who actually did not suffer from classic AD, had perlèche, 56% of them follicular keratosis. We discuss the possible interrelation between these findings and ichthyosis vulgaris which often occurs concomitantly. The course of AD is influenced by seasons in 77%. Deterioration of the skin conditions was predominantly found in periods of psychical stress (22%), with nervousness (33%), or with sweating (51%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)