UNMET NEEDS OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS
in Latin America

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, pruritic inflammatory skin condition that typically affects the face, neck, arms, and legs. AD usually begins in early infancy, but also affects a substantial number of adults. AD has a broad range of severity, with the most severe lasting into adulthood.

Within the last decade, Latin America has emerged with a relatively high prevalence of AD. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood examined 14 countries in Latin America in 2010. This study found that children in Mexico had the lowest risk of developing AD, and those in Ecuador and Colombia had the two highest risks. This study also suggested that race and ethnicity may not influence the risk as previously thought. Instead, socioeconomic factors and environment may play a bigger role in this condition.

Currently, the data on AD in Latin America is lacking. Unique to the Region is the broad range of environments, making it more difficult to gather region-wide statistics. Even without this data, it is clear to see that this condition can be a precursor to many other debilitating conditions. Thus, AD and the comorbidities associated with this condition can be seen as a large burden to health systems and individuals.

In February 2021, AHF convened a meeting of Latin American experts on AD in Latin America via Zoom to develop recommendations for increasing the early diagnosis, treatment, and effective management of these diseases in the country. The manuscript entitled “The Unmet Needs in Atopic Dermatitis Control in Latin America: A Multidisciplinary Expert Perspective” is published in Dermatology and Therapy. Please click here to read the full article.