We report the cases of an 11-years-old boy and a 16-year-old boy who were admitted by non-school attendance with severe atopic dermatitis.
Examination of their blood showed highly elevated serum IgE (12, 000IU/ml, 55, 300IU/ml) and positive RAST to house dust mites and several food allergens. Sigle open food challenge tests were carried out, following elimination diets and environmental control during about 3 weeks of admission achieved marked improvement. These challenge tests revealed that patient 1 was allergic to rice, soy bean and egg but wheat, cow's milk and pork, while patient 2 was allergic to rice and wheat but shrimp.
It is thought that number of children absent from school due to severe atopic dermatitis will increase in the future. This report emphasizes that avoidance of allergens, should be done firstly for patients of non-school attendance by atopic dermatitis, though psychological treatment is important.