ATOPY

• Atopy or atopic
syndrome is a
predisposition toward
developing certain allergic
hypersensitivity reactions.
Atopy may have a
hereditary component,
although contact with the
allergen must occur
before the hypersensitivity
reaction can develop.
 Presentation
• Atopy is a disease
characterized by a
tendency to be
“hyperallergic”. A patient
with atopy typically
presents with one or more
of the following: eczema
(atopic dermatitis), allergic
rhinitis (hayfever), allergic
conjunctivitis, or allergic
asthma. Patients with
atopy also have a
tendency to have food
allergies.
 Causes
• Atopic reactions are caused by localized
hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen.
• Atopy appears to show a strong
• hereditary component.
• Environmental factors are also thought to
play a role in the development of atopy
 Symptoms

• Cracks in the skin under

the earlobe
• Eczema
• In elbow flexures and /or
hollow of the knees
• Nipple eczema
• Neurodermatitis
• Conjunctivitis
• Chronic or seasonal
rhinitis
 Treatment
• Corticosteroids
• Immune modulators
• Avoiding dry skin
• Avoiding allergens and irritants
 References
• http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ omim/
147050
• http:/ / www. diseasesdatabase. com/
ddb34489. htm
• http:/ / www. atsdr. cdc.gov
• http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/
20050904174102/ http:/ / www. dermis.
net/ cgi-bin/ atopiefrage/ erster-e. asp)