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
 Signs and symptoms
• Patients with atopy usually develop what is
referred to as the “allergic triad” of
symptoms, i.e., eczema (atopic
dermatitis), hayfever (allergic rhinitis), and
allergy-induced asthma (allergic asthma).
They also have a tendency to have food
allergies, and other symptoms
characterized by their hyperallergic state.
For example, eosinophilic esophagitis is
found associated with atopic allergies.
• Symptoms
• Some symptoms, from an atopy questionnaire :
• Cracks in the skin under the earlobe
• Eczema
• In elbow flexures and/or hollow of the knees
• Nipple eczema
• Neurodermatitis
• Subtype Dyshidrosis
• Keratosis pilaris
• Perlčche
• 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)