Harmful foreign substances (antigens) that enter the body, our immune
system neutralizes in order to avoid illness. Among the main components of this
protective system are certain types of white blood cells: T – and B –
lymphocytes. First of all, they assume the functions of organizers of
protection, and partly they themselves participate in the attack on unwanted
aliens.
Neurodermatitis is a complex dysfunction of the immune system and skin.
In this disease, the immune system is prone to excessive protective actions. In
addition, the water exchange of the skin is disturbed. Symptoms of
neurodermatitis are manifested in the form of drying and disruption of normal protective
functions, as a result of harmful effects and external irritants, it is easier
to reach the deeper layers of the skin and come into contact with immune cells.
Skin reactions occur – redness, weeping , peeling, severe itching. The
significance of external influences varies depending on the individual
characteristics of a person. In some patients, for example, food allergies
strongly affect the course of the disease, in others, allergies to house dust
mites or pollen allergens come to the fore. The role of neuropsychic stressful
influences is almost always great.
The identification of these external factors and influences that cause
neurodermatitis is crucial for the treatment of the disease.
About seventy years ago, neurodermatitis was combined with allergic rhinitis
and allergic bronchial asthma under one general concept of “atopic
syndrome”. Atopy is, in fact, all the main allergic reactions transmitted
to a person “by inheritance”. But not all components of atopy must necessarily
cause symptoms of the corresponding disease. There may well be only a
predisposition, not necessarily resulting in a disease. Atopy can be
represented as a cube inherited by a child from parents, grandparents.
Depending on which side this cube falls on, either eczematic changes in the
skin in some form of neurodermatitis, or a change in the mucous membrane in the
form of allergic rhinitis or allergic bronchial asthma will come to the fore.
The joint manifestation of neurodermatitis and asthma occurs, fortunately, infrequently,
15 – 30% of cases. Different studies of the prevalence of this variant,
therefore, give a great discrepancy in the results. On the other hand, it often
happens that the stages of neurodermatitis during the period of illness
alternate with the stages of allergic rhinitis or allergic bronchial asthma.
Attention! The age for which such an alternation is characteristic is the sixth, seventh years of life.
Many “healings” by very suspicious means and methods at this age are nothing
more than spontaneous remission (a period in which there are no symptoms of the
disease) or a change from neurodermatitis to allergic rhinitis. The fact that
an imaginary miraculous remedy was used at this time and at this age , – a pure
accident that has nothing to do with the cure of the disease.