What causes atopic dermatitis in a child?
Applies to age: 1–60 months
In short
The causes of atopic dermatitis (AZS) are multifactorial: genetic and environmental, and most often several factors act at the same time. If you see worrying symptoms, consult a primary care doctor.
What is normal
Some claims: international norm
- The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AZS) is multifactorial, depending on genetic and environmental factors.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Patogeneza schorzenia jest wieloczynnikowa, zależna od czynników genetycznych i środowiskowych.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Most often there is no single cause of AZS; several factors influence one another.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Najczęściej nie ma jednej przyczyny choroby, ale kilka czynników na siebie wpływa.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- If atopic dermatitis has occurred in the immediate family, there is a high probability of the disease in the child.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
skłonności genetyczne – jeśli w najbliższej rodzinie wystąpiło atopowe zapalenie skóry, jest duże prawdopodobieństwo choroby u Twojego dziecka
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- AZS is often the result of an allergy, that is, contact with a sensitizing trigger.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
AZS często jest wynikiem alergii, kontaktu z uczulającym bodźcem.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- AZS is one of the most common skin diseases.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
AZS to jedna z najczęstszych chorób skóry, charakteryzująca się suchą skórą, świądem i wypryskiem wymagającym długotrwałego leczenia.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- The first symptoms of AZS appear in infants between the 3rd and 6th month of life.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Pierwsze objawy występują u niemowlaków między 3. a 6. miesiącem życia.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Atopic dermatitis affects people of all ages, but it occurs most often in young children.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
It affects people of all ages but is most common in young children.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- Atopic dermatitis usually starts in infants and young children, and usually improves with age.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Symptoms can start at any age, but they usually start in babies and young children and tend to get better as they get older.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- It is not always known what causes atopic dermatitis.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
It's not always known what causes atopic eczema.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, so you cannot catch it or pass it on.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Atopic eczema is not contagious so you cannot catch or spread it.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- The causes of AZS and its mechanisms have not been studied in detail so far.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Dotychczas nie zbadano dokładnie przyczyn powstawania choroby ani jej mechanizmów.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Not every skin change is AZS.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nie każda zmiana na skórze jest AZS.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- The signs listed may mean an infection of atopic dermatitis or a more serious condition called eczema herpeticum.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
These can be signs that your eczema is infected or you have a more serious condition called eczema herpeticum.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Skin changes that suddenly get worse or bigger in a child with atopic dermatitis need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
it suddenly gets worse or gets bigger
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- Skin changes in a child with atopic dermatitis that are blistered, covered with crusts, leaking fluid or have spots filled with pus need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
it's blistered, crusty, leaking fluid or has spots filled with pus
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- A child with atopic dermatitis who has a high temperature or generally feels unwell needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you have a high temperature or feel generally unwell
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- If you see worrying symptoms, consult a primary care doctor.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli widzisz niepokojące objawy, skonsultuj się z lekarzem podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A consultation with an allergist or a dermatologist may be needed.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Może będzie potrzebna konsultacja u alergologa lub dermatologa.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [3]
- A worsening of symptoms when you cannot wait until morning is a situation that requires medical help.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
objawy się nasilą i nie możesz czekać do rana
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.