The efficacy of wet wrap therapy in children with atopic dermatitis in a single center

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Wet wrap therapy is a well-known treatment for severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, wet wrap therapy with usual bandage was a troublesome and time-consuming process of application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and convenience of wet wrap therapy with new garments in children with moderate-to-severe AD. METHODS: We compared 56 AD children treated with wet wrap therapy and 14 AD children treated with only conventional therapy. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features, change of SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, adverse effects and parent's reports. RESULTS: The initial mean SCORAD index was 60.3±15.3 points. No significant differences in sex, age, initial SCORAD index, total eosinophil count, total IgE level, food allergen sensitization, inhalant allergen sensitization or associated allergic diseases were found between the wet wrap and conventional groups. The pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions except wet wrap therapy were same in the 2 groups. Wet wrap therapy with garments or tubular bandage was easily done one time per day overnight in 10.6±3.5 days by parents. Improvement in total SCORAD index, intensity, subjective symptoms and pruritus were significantly higher in the wet wrap group than in the conventional group (36.2 vs. 26.9, 6.0 vs. 4.0, 9.9 vs. 7.4, and 4.8 vs. 3.6 points). No folliculitis and serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSION: Wet wrap therapy with new garments could be easily done by parents. Wet wrap therapy may be effective and safe in controlling moderate-to-severe AD in children.