Climatotherapy of atopic dermatitis at the Dead Sea: demographic evaluation and cost-effectiveness.

Authors: Harari M (1) , Shani J (2) , Seidl V (3) , Hristakieva E (3)
Affiliations:
(1) DMZ-MOR Rehabilitation Clinic (2) Dept. of Pharmacology, The Hebrew University School of Pharmacy (3) Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Thracian University
Source: Int J Dermatol. 2000 Jan;39(1):59-69.
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2000.00840.x Publication date: 2000 Jan E-Publication date: Dec. 25, 2001 Availability: abstract Copyright: © 2001, John Wiley and Sons
Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Marco Harari, MD DMZ-MOR Clinic Lot Hotel Ein-Bokek 86930 The Dead Sea Israel

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Article abstract

BACKGROUND:

About 21% of the patients coming yearly to the DMZ Clinic at the Dead Sea for climatotherapy suffer from atopic dermatitis. This is a common, chronic, and relapsing disease which necessitates drug treatment (topical corticosteroids, antimicrobials, antihistamines, or immunomodulators), phototherapy, or climatotherapy. Objective and methods As the improvement in the condition of patients after 4 weeks of climatotherapy at the Dead Sea is remarkable, we undertook to evaluate the demographic factors that have the strongest impact on this beneficial effect, in adults and children. The major factors studied were: gender, previous medical history, previous stays at the Dead Sea, skin type, skin involvement, age, and duration of treatment. Results A retrospective study of 1718 patients revealed that previous treatments at the Dead Sea and stays longer than 4 weeks caused a clearance greater than 95%, the length of sun exposure was no longer than 5 h daily, and there was no impact of the percentage of skin involvement on the clearance of patients staying more than 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION:

s Climatotherapy of atopic dermatitis at the Dead Sea is a highly effective modality for treating this disease. It is also a highly cost-effective method, as the patients take no medications and experience no side-effects. Successful climatotherapy of atopic dermatitis requires strict medical supervision throughout the whole length of the patient's stay on shore.

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