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Hand eczema : clinical efficacy of interventions, and burden of disease

(2005) Coevorden, Anthony Marco van

Hand eczema is considered a common disease. The exact prevalences however, are unknown. Studies estimate a point prevalence of 1 to 5% among adults in the general population, and a one-year prevalence of up to 10%, depending on whether the disease definition includes more pronounced or mild cases. Hand eczema tends to run a long lasting and chronic relapsing course, probably because of the multifactorial origin: atopy, irritant and allergic contact factors all may play a role, alone or in combination. In addition to the obvious itch, the social stigmata associated with a visible skin disease can be a great burden. The skin changes in hand eczema can prevent manual work, leading to significant disability and huge economic loss to both individuals and society.
The above-mentioned characteristics of hand eczema make it an important disease to study from an individual and a societal perspective. The aim of this thesis, stimulated by our randomised controlled trial (RCT), is to clinically reflect on the evidence-base for the treatments of hand eczema. The work focuses on the comparative efficacy of interventions for hand eczema and on the burden of disease associated with it.

	Title and contents
	Chapter 1
	Chapter 2
	Chapter 3
	Chapter 4
	Chapter 5
	Chapter 6
	Appendix 1
	Appendix 2
	Discussion
	Summary
	Samenvatting
	Dankwoord
	Curriculum vitae
	Publications
	Stellingen
	Complete thesis