[Epidemiological study on atopic dermatitis in Mexico].

Background: There is limited epidemiological information on the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) from specialist physicians in Mexico.

Objective: To know the criteria that is used by specialists in Mexico to diagnose and treat AD.

Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, which was authorized by the ethics committee, was carried out through an electronic survey.

Results: 114 surveys were carried out; 56% of the participants were allergists, 38% were dermatologists and 5% were pediatricians. It was identified that 54% used clinical criteria for the diagnosis of AD and 42% used the criteria of Hanifin-Rajka as a diagnostic complement; 38% requested total and/or specific IgE, blood biometry and blood chemistry tests. They recount that 90% of patients under the age of 18 had mild AD, 8% had moderate AD and 2% had severe AD; and, in patients over the age of 18, 89% had mild AD, 6% had moderate AD and 5% had severe AD. The patients' care was multidisciplinary, since 57% of the survey respondents requested assessments combined with ophthalmology, dermatology and allergology.

Conclusion: Knowledge of the disease will lead to a better control of the disease. The challenge is to have a patient registry, update treatment guidelines, consider comorbidities and have therapeutic options for its control.