Kemp A S
Department of Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
J Paediatr Child Health. 1999 Jun;35(3):229-31. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1754.1999.00343.x.
Atopic dermatitis is a disorder with considerable social and financial costs. A recent Australian study indicates that the family stress related to the care of a child with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis is significantly greater than that of care of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The factors contributing to family stress include: sleep deprivation; loss of employment; time taken for care of atopic dermatitis; and financial costs. An estimate of the yearly financial costs for a family and community (which includes medical, hospital, direct costs of treatments and indirect costs from loss of employment), range from $A1142 per child per year with mild atopic dermatitis, to $A6099 per year for a child with severe atopic dermatitis. As the current prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Australia is 10-15%, this indicates a considerable financial burden on the community. It is possible that appropriate interventions directed to reducing trigger factors, may produce worthwhile savings, in addition to benefits for the individuals and families. Atopic dermatitis should not be regarded as a minor skin disorder but as a condition which has the potential to be a major handicap involving considerable personal, social and financial consequences both for the family and for the community.
特应性皮炎是一种会带来相当大社会和经济成本的疾病。澳大利亚最近的一项研究表明，照顾患有中度或重度特应性皮炎儿童所产生的家庭压力，显著大于照顾患有胰岛素依赖型糖尿病儿童的家庭压力。导致家庭压力的因素包括：睡眠不足；失业；照顾特应性皮炎患儿所花费的时间；以及经济成本。据估计，一个家庭和社区每年的经济成本（包括医疗、住院、治疗的直接成本以及失业造成的间接成本），从轻度特应性皮炎患儿每年每人1142澳元，到重度特应性皮炎患儿每年每人6099澳元不等。由于目前澳大利亚特应性皮炎的患病率为10%-15%，这表明该病给社区带来了相当大的经济负担。除了对个人和家庭有益之外，针对减少触发因素的适当干预措施可能会带来可观的节省。特应性皮炎不应被视为一种轻微的皮肤疾病，而应被视为一种有可能成为重大障碍的疾病，会给家庭和社区带来相当大的个人、社会和经济后果。
