• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.40-46
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• 2010

Objective: This study investigated the therapeutic possibility of natural therapy in atopy-camp for children with atopic dermatitis. Methods: 30 children (19 boys and 11 girls, median age 11.5 years, ranging from 9 to 15) participated in natural environment-based activities in a camp-village located in Geumsan-gun for five days. Assessment of symptom change was conducted by self-reporting numeric scale (NRS) for pruritus and sleeping difficulty, investigator global assessment (IGA), eczema area and severity index (EASI score), serum histamine and IgE concentration before and after the camp period. Statistical significance was analyzed by paired t-test. Results: NRS for pruritus ($4.7{\pm}2.0$ into $4.3{\pm}2.1$), sleeping difficulty ($3.1{\pm}2.1$ into $2.9{\pm}2.0$), and serum histamine concentration ($4.27{\pm}7.39$ mol / L into $3.21{\pm}6.08$ mol / L) showed positive changes but didn't reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). IGA ($3.8{\pm}0.9$ into $4.13{\pm}1.0$), while EASI score ($10.8{\pm}9.7$ into $9.1{\pm}9.2$) and IgE ($408{\pm}320$ IU / mL into $385{\pm}3.8$ IU / mL) were significantly improved (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In spite of the limitation of the clinical trial protocol, this study may provide the possibility of natural environment-based therapy for children with atopic dermatitis.