The Role of Food Allergy in Infantile Atopic Dermatitis

유아기 아토피 피부염에 있어서 식품 알레르기의 역할에 대한 고찰

Infantile atopic dermatitis(AD) may be developed by food allergens due to immature intestinal epithelium and its mechanism, which may have no clear-cut evidence, is thought to be IgE mediated immediate and late phase hypersensitivity. It is not easy to diagnose AD caused by food allergens exactly so it is likely to be underestimated more than it be. But we must consider it as a major factor of not only infantile AD but childhood and adult AD. We can see similar theory at previous Oriental medicine. Allergens can be transmitted to a fetus through the placenta and infantile AD is inflammatory condition by food allergens and immature function of intestines. So we must consider those factors at infantile AD treatment. We expect a new model of infantile AD treatment combining the conventional therapy with the diet therapy based on the Oriental medical theory.