[Summary of the practice guideline 'Atopic dermatitis' (first revision) from the Dutch College of General Practitioners]. / Samenvatting van de standaard 'Constitutioneel eczeem' (eerste herziening) van het Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap.

The 1996 practice guideline on atopic dermatitis from the Dutch College of General Practitioners has been updated. For diagnosing atopic dermatitis, the use of Williams' criteria is recommended. Testing for food allergy is only useful in case of children under the age of 2 who have other food-related allergic complaints together with dermatitis. In the treatment of atopic dermatitis, keeping the skin in good condition with emollients is essential; furthermore, topical corticosteroids are the therapy of first choice. In case of a severe exacerbation of atopic dermatitis, starting with a class 3 corticosteroid is preferred. In case of frequent recurrences, 'pulse-therapy' is indicated: topical corticosteroids on 2-4 consecutive days per week as maintenance therapy. The role of preparations from tar is marginal. The use of the topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in general practice is discouraged.

[Summary of the practice guideline 'Refraction errors' from the Dutch College of General Practitioners]. / Samenvatting van de standaard 'Refractieafwijkingen' van het Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap.

The practice guideline 'Refraction errors' from the Dutch College of General Practitioners describes the examinations that need to be carried out in patients complaining about a gradual loss of vision. A measurement of vision by means of a Snellen chart is insufficient to determine if the condition is caused by a refraction error or if other pathology of the eye such as cataract, glaucoma or retinopathy is involved. It is therefore recommended that the vision should also be measured with a simple device containing spherical lenses of +0.5 and -0.5 dioptre, so-called diagnostic refraction. Improvement of vision with the negative lens indicates myopia. Improvement or at least a stable vision with the positive lens makes hyperopia very likely. Diagnostic refraction, which can be used in patients of six years and older, enables the general practitioner to distinguish between patients needing glasses or contact lenses, and patients requiring referral to an ophthalmologist.