DIAGNOSING ATOPIC DERMATITIS:Differential Diagnoses & Diagnostic Modalities
(Nenita L. Alberto, M.D.)

Atopic Dermatitis is a common eczematous, inflammatory skin disorder mainly affecting infants and children. It is chronic, very pruritic skin eruption usually associated with a personal or family history of atopy such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and urticaria. It has 3 stages the infantile, childhood and the adult phase.
 
The diagnosis is based on the Hannifin and Rajka major and minor criteria. The major criteria consist of pruritus (hallmark), age distribution and morphology of the skin lesions, chronic recurrent dermatitis, and a personal or family history of atopy. Skin biopsy could also aid in diagnosis.
 
Atopic dermatitis may be identical in morphology to other eczematous disorders or may complicate other conditions such as contact dermatitis. The Infantile phase must be differentiated from seborreheic dermatitis, scabies, and some Immunodeficiency disorders; Childhood phase from seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, scabies, tinea; and the Adult phase from contact dermatitis, nummular eczema, tinea, stsis dermatitis and psoriasis.