Case Report of a Pilot with Atopic Dermatitis / 항공우주의학회지

ABSTRACT

Atopic dermatitis is a condition that makes skin red and itchy. It is common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is chronic and tends to flare periodically. The pathogenesis of the disease has not yet been clearly elucidated but genetic predisposition, immunological dysfunction, and environmental factors are presumed to be involved in the pathogenesis. In general, it is difficult to cure, but as time passes, most of them heal naturally and the symptoms disappear, but the symptoms continue to recur. So, the basic treatment is to relieve the pruritus and prevent it from reoccurring. Treatment involves avoiding things that make the condition worse, daily bathing with application of moisturizing cream afterwards, applying steroid creams when flares occur, and medications to relieve itching sensation. Steroid pills or creams based on calcineurin inhibitors may occasionally be used if other measures are not effective. When examining a pilot with atopic dermatitis, the dermatitis condition, the treatment being used, and the side effects of the medications should be considered. This case involves an otherwise healthy applicant for the 1st class medical certification who has had atopic dermatitis.