Number of neurodermatitis cases on the rise in Hamburg
More and more people in Hamburg are suffering from neurodermatitis - the skin disease is on the rise, especially among children. This is shown by a study by Barmer. The health insurance company analyzed the number of diagnoses from 2012 to 2022. According to the study, the number of people in the Hanseatic city suffering from the chronic inflammatory skin disease rose by around twelve percent from just over 75,500 to almost 85,000 during this period.
"Atopic dermatitis flare-ups are particularly common in the fall, as the cool outside temperatures and dry heating air are particularly hard on the skin," Barmer regional managing director Susanne Klein told the German Press Agency.
The figures vary depending on age. Children up to the age of nine are most frequently affected. In this age group, neurodermatitis is diagnosed in 11.6 percent of children. This means that more than every tenth child is affected. According to the figures, 6.1 percent of 10 to 19-year-olds are affected. For over 20-year-olds, the rate of those affected then falls steadily to a level of just over two percent.
"Atopic dermatitis is mainly diagnosed in infants, children and adolescents. This may also be due to the fact that the symptoms need to be clarified by a doctor when they first appear," said Klein. The non-contagious disease is not curable. "However, there are more frequent symptom-free phases in adulthood."
One of the most serious symptoms is an itchy skin rash, which is also very stressful psychologically. Factors such as smoking, air pollution, excessive hygiene or stress can exacerbate the symptoms.
Women and men are also affected differently. Figures show that an average of 4.9 percent of women and 4 percent of men in Hamburg were affected by neurodermatitis last year, said Klein.
The rise in neurodermatitis cases in Hamburg highlights the importance of comprehensive health insurance, as managing such diseases can incur significant medical costs. Unfortunately, diseases like neurodermatitis are often chronic and non-curable, making long-term health insurance coverage crucial.
Source: www.dpa.com
