1. For the Child
   • Pityriasis alba
   • Nummular eczema
   • Periorbital dermatosis
   • Dermatitis of the hands

2. For the Adult
   • Head and neck dermatitis
   • Severe atopic eczema
   • Contact eczema is a frequent complication of atopic dermatitis in the adult (See example).
   • Dermatitis of the hands

3. The criteria of Hanifin and Rajka
   AD diagnosis requires the presence of at least three of these criteria :
   • Major criteria
     • Characteristic distribution
     • An essential sign : pruritus
     • Chronic progression with recurrences
     • Familial history of atopy :
       In 70 % of cases, evidence of eczema, asthma or seasonal rhinitis is found among the direct ascendents of patients.
   • Cutaneous minor criteria
     
     • Signs of skin dryness : hyperstriated palm, keratosis pilaris, xerosis
     • Facial pallor, pityriasis alba
     • Nipple eczema
     • Infections tendency, wool intolerance, pruritus caused by sudation
   • Extra cutaneous minor criteria
     • Ophtalmologic manifestations : Periorbital rings, recurrent conjunctivitis, keratoconus / cataract
     • Other symptoms : Food intolerance, hyper IgE, course influenced by emotional or environmental factors
   • In practice : the six most useful diagnostic criteria for AD [WILLIAMS 1994] :
     • History of flexural dermatitis
     • Onset under the age of two years
     • Presence of an itchy rash
     • Personal history of asthma
     • History of a dry skin
     • Visible flexural dermatitis

Next : Differential diagnosis