Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis
There are a few ways by which atopic dermatitis is diagnosed in a patient. The first of which the physical examination of the patient and to check the family history. In children with atopic dermatitis, the doctors ask personal information about family history and the onset of the symptoms. After information, the patient’s skin is assessed, the physical appearance of lesions on the body and the area of its distribution, the seasonal variations on the skin, and the severity of the rashes and skin is observed to understand its nature and stage.
The contact of persons with environmental factors, including dust, pollution, and house cleaning agents like plastics, nail polish remover or chemicals and chromatics that can give rise to atopic dermatitis are also assessed.
Another complication that can arise with atopic dermatitis, like a bacterial infection of the skin or eye, is deeply checked.
Multiple questions are asked from the patient, including
- Whether the patient’s skin lesion is affected by any factor inducing smoking or perfumes, shampoo, detergents?
- If the consumption or use of any drug or medication increases, the symptoms or increasing skin irritant?
- Is the patient involves in any aggressive activity like sports and games or does tough exercises daily. If the patient is female, then her maturation cycle routine is checked a checked if any changes occurred due to the menstruation cycle.
Currently, there are no laboratory tests available that can infirm the diagnoses of atopic dermatitis. In some cases, the doctors examine the person more than one to distinguish atopic dermatitis with seborrheic dermatitis because both diseases carry quite the same symptoms.
For a patient to have atopic dermatitis, four major criteria must be fulfilled which include
- Pruritus – Chronic or recurrent form of dermatitis
- Family history of atopic dermatitis patient
- Multiple skin lesions with rashes.
- The patient suffering from atopic dermatitis may also feel food intolerance and wool intolerance.
The skin becomes more sensitive, and susceptibility to skin infection increases. As the only physical examination is not enough to be sure about topic dermatitis; therefore, a laboratory test is also performed.
Laboratory tests
Laboratory tests are performed to identify the original cause of the condition. Sometimes two different diseases show the same kinds of symptoms, which makes it very difficult for the doctor to identify the disease. These tests help to know the disease, along with its cause. Here are some of the tests performed for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis