Samenvatting van de standaard 'Constitutioneel eczeem' (eerste herziening) van het Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap

- The 1996 practice guideline on atopic dermatitis from the Dutch College of General Practitioners has been updated.

- For diagnosing atopic dermatitis, the use of Williams’ criteria is recommended.

- Testing for food allergy is only useful in case of children under the age of 2 who have other food-related allergic complaints together with dermatitis.

- In the treatment of atopic dermatitis, keeping the skin in good condition with emollients is essential; furthermore, topical corticosteroids are the therapy of first choice.

- In case of a severe exacerbation of atopic dermatitis, starting with a class 3 corticosteroid is preferred.

- In case of frequent recurrences, ‘pulse-therapy’ is indicated: topical corticosteroids on 2-4 consecutive days per week as maintenance therapy.

- The role of preparations from tar is marginal.

- The use of the topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in general practice is discouraged.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007;151:1394-8