How is eczema diagnosed?
Several types of eczema with differing aetiologic factors may display a similar clinical picture, which makes an elaborate anamnesis mandatory. For diagnosing eczema we recommend the following diagnostic procedure:
I. Anamnesis
- Onset of disease
- Time flow of eczema and relations to certain activities (season, time of day, occupation, improvement during holidays, hobbies, stress etc.)
- Does the localisation of eczema correlate with exposure to possible triggers (direct skin contact, food, animals)?
- Which treatments have been performed (local/systemic) and how was the patient’s experience with these?
- Contact to possible irritants and allergens (chemicals, detergents, metal, plants, leather or rubber gloves etc.)
- Where is the eczema localised (hands, feet, face, neck, flexural folds of the extremities)?
- Former dermatitis (atopic anamnesis)
- Family history
II. Clinical examination
- Total-body examination and documentation of skin changes, photography if indicated
- Atopic criteria
III. Laboratory tests and skin tests (if indicated)
- IgE, specific IgE
- Prick testing
- Patch testing
- Atopy patch test
- Exposition tests
- Mycology, bacteriology
- Histopathology
|