Atopic dermatitis and implications for military service

Abstract

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis is a common condition in the general population. Historically, it has been a disqualifying condition for military service despite its relatively high prevalence and low severity. As the barriers to service in the military decrease for individuals with atopic dermatitis, it is important to be aware of potential complications of this condition and their military implications. Materials and Methods: A literature search for topics relating to atopic dermatitis was performed utilizing PubMed. An internet search of the military regulations regarding this condition was also performed. Additionally, an independent request was made by the authors of this paper to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch to look at evacuations given a specific diagnosis of atopic dermatitis at the time of evacuation from January 2003 to December 2006. The data obtained from this request were compared to data available in publications relating to this topic covering the same time period. Results: There are many complications of atopic dermatitis that are relevant to military service including the propensity to flare in harsh conditions, ocular complications, and risk of secondary infections. Despite this, there were fewer than expected reported casualties secondary to atopic dermatitis suggesting the possibility that screening against this condition prevents non-battle injuries during deployment. Conclusions: Atopic dermatitis is a very common disease that has the potential to complicate military service in many ways but the reported rates of these complications are actually very low. This is either because there is already an intervention in place or these complications are less common than theoretically anticipated. This is relevant because as it becomes easier to obtain waivers for a history of this condition there will be more individuals with atopic dermatitis in the military.