Preface; Foreword; Part I. The Nature of the Problem: 1. What is atopic
dermatitis, and how should it be defined in epidemiological studies? H.
Williams; 2. The pathophysiology and clinical features of atopic dermatitis
C. Archer; 3. The natural history of atopic dermatitis H. Williams and B.
Wüthrich; 4. Occupational consequences of atopic dermatitis P. J. Coenraads
and T. Diepgen; Part II. Descriptive Studies which Indicate the Size of the
Problem: 5. Geographical studies of atopic dermatitis N. McNally and D.
Philips; 6. The morbidity and cost of atopic dermatitis R. Herd; 7. Is the
prevalence of atopic dermatitis increasing? T. Diepgen; Part III.
Analytical Studies which Point to Causes of Atopic Dermatitis: 8. Genetic
epidemiology of atopic dermatitis F. S. Larsen; 9. Foetal and perinatal
origins of atopic dermatitis K. Godfrey; 10. Socioeconomic factors and
atopic dermatitis N. McNally and D. Philips; 11. The 'old mother'
hypothesis A. B. Olesen and K. Thestrup-Pederson; 12. The possible role of
environmental pollution T. Schäfer and J. Ring; 13. Migrant studies H.
Williams and C. Burrell-Morris; 14. The role of house dust mite H. Kolmer
and T. Platts-Mills; 15. Dietary factors in atopic dermatitis T. David, L.
Patel, C. Ewing and R. H. Stanton; Part IV. Intervention Studies: 16.
Prevention of atopic dermatitis A. Mar and R. Marks; Part V. Lessons from
Other Fields: 17. Parallels with the epidemiology of asthma and hay fever
D. Strachan; 18. Recent developments in atopic diseases in animals S. Shaw
and M. Day; Part VI. Conclusions: 19. The future research agenda H.
Williams; Index.
