While it's true that atopic dermatitis itself may have "no serious impact on
health," sufferers are more
vulnerable to other
diseases. An example is
cowpox, a
virus akin to
smallpox that is found normally in cows, cats, rodents, and other animals. Humans can be
infected with cowpox, but it usually doesn't require any
treatment. A few years ago, however, there was a case of a small boy who suffered from atopic dermatitis who contracted cowpox from his pet cat, and the infection killed him. Since the smallpox
vaccine is made from cowpox, people who suffer from atopic dermatitis cannot use the vaccine. In fact, they can't even be around other people who have recently been vaccinated.
A. dermatitis (or susceptibilty to it) appears to be transmitted
genetically. The condition is especially common in people of
Scandanavian descent. It also appears to affect
men more than
women.
Infants who have a. dermatitis are more susceptible to skin infections such as
impetigo and
eczema. They have to wear all-
cotton clothing, which must be washed in a non-irritating
detergent such as Dreft, and they can't be bathed with soap.