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Atopic Dermatitis : A Disease Of Unknown Origin

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Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic disease of unknown origin that usually starts in early infancy; it is characterized by pruritus, eczematous lesions, xerosis, and lichenification. Atopic dermatitis may be associated with other atopic (immunoglobulin E [IgE]) diseases as asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria and acute allergic reactions to foods (Jansen et al., 1973).
Atopic dermatitis affects 15-30% of children and 2-10% of adults (Williams et al., 1995). Atopic dermatitis is a complex multifactorial disease, with an increase in its prevalence (Corrado et al., 2000).
A positive association between H. pylori antibodies and food allergy presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms has been reported, especially H. pylori strain that possesses CagA, as a virulence factor. When H. pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa, it alters gastric barrier function. This in turn increases the passage of intact molecules across the epithelial barrier with resultant allergies and atopic manifestations (Matysiak et al., 2002).
An increase in IgE serum levels induces the synthesis and release of cytokines, sustaining chronic allergic inflammation, such as that seen AD. It has been stated that Staphylococcus aureus may promote AD by an IgE mediated immune response. Similarly, it was tempting to hypothesize that H. pylori induces such immunological reaction (Hanifin and Rogge, 1977).
On the other hand, it was found that early acquired infections may have a protective role

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