Usually, eczema (atopic dermatitis) develops in the creases of the arms and behind the knees in the first year of life and signifies that a child will be an allergic individual. Approximately half of children with atopic dermatitis will go on to develop allergic rhinitis and/or asthma in the next 5 to 10 years. Of note, the vast majority of patients who develop an allergic disease will do so by age 30 years.
Atopic dermatitis is the first problem to appear and also usually the first to resolve; by age 10 years, allergic eczema has resolved or improved markedly in up to 90% of chil-dren. Allergic rhinitis and asthma, once established, have a very low rate of remission.