Original paper
An influence of disease severity on family quality of life in atopic dermatitis patients

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin condition. It is characterized by typical localization and morphology of itchy lesions. It often occurs in patients with family or personal history of atopy and places a large burden on patients, their families and society. It presents a significant health problem and in 40-60% results in development of other atopic diseases. Epidemiologic studies conducted in the past 3 decades have revealed a significant increase in the prevalence of AD. It affects between 10 and 20% of preschool and school children in developed countries of Western Europe and the United States. The global epidemiological project named the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) carried out in several countries of Western and Eastern Europe revealed a rapid increase in the prevalence of atopic diseases after the reunification of Germany and collapse of the socialist system in Eastern European countries, which in turn resulted in marked environmental changes and rapidly altered lifestyle. The areas of high impact include: practical care issues, psychological aspects, restriction of social life and interpersonal relationships. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between severity of atopic dermatitis and quality of life in children as well as determination of the most affected areas of family life.