Dr Roberto Takaoka, Vice-President of the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD), visited Manaus last month as part of a nationwide initiative by the Brazilian Atopic Dermatitis Association (AADA) to establish new support groups for patients with atopic dermatitis across Brazil.
Manaus, a city of approximately 2.4 million people situated on the Rio Negro and surrounded by dense tropical forest, grew rapidly during the 19th-century rubber boom. Its distinct environmental and social setting makes it a notable location for dermatologic research.
The first AD support group meeting in the city was hosted by Dr Isabel Cristina Lima Encarnação and held at the Alfredo da Mata Institute, a respected local hospital that began as a leprosy dispensary in the 1950s and now treats a range of dermatologic conditions, including atopic dermatitis. The meeting drew patients, caregivers and local healthcare professionals.
During the visit, conversations with local colleagues and observations at the meeting suggested that severe cases of atopic dermatitis are seen within Manaus itself, while severe disease appears less common in more remote, river-accessible rural areas. This contrast points to Manaus as a potentially valuable setting for studying environmental contributions to the condition.
Despite this potential, data on the epidemiology and prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the Amazon region, as well as the possible impact of industrialization, remain scarce.
The new support group and the clinical exchange it fosters may help generate much-needed data from the Amazon region. ISAD said it encourages and supports such projects aimed at improving understanding and care of atopic dermatitis.