[About the reticence to specific immunotherapy in alergic subjects]. / A propos de la réticence a l'immunothérapie spécifique chez les personnes allergiques: les nouvelles données de la littérature.

The increasing number of allergic subjects and the alteration of their quality of life are major concerns of public health. Symptomatic treatments of allergic diseases are not always able to improve the patient's complaints. Allergic exploration aims to identify IgE-dependant mechanisms and subsequently to prove the responsibility of the detected allergen in the allergic disease. The efficacy of the specific immunotherapy (SIT) using allergens in either subcutaneous or sublingual forms has been proven in rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and IgE-induced reactions to hymenoptera venom. The lack of training in allergology is an important reticence of general practitioners and specialists to prescribe SIT. Furthermore, the duration of the treatment and its important cost in Belgium (where, only venom SIT is reimbursed by the Social Security) interfere significantly with the compliance of the patients.

[When creams turn into a burden]. / Le crémage a du plomb dans l'aile.

Topical treatment is the cornerstone of therapy for patients suffering from psoriasis. Its efficacy and safety have been demonstrated in a large number of publications. However, in daily life, the treatment outcome is often less satisfactory than the results published in the literature. This phenomenon is clearly linked to non-adherence. Indeed, patients with psoriasis frequently consider the topical therapies frequently as a heavy burden. The successful management of psoriasis with topical agents requires a perfect understanding between the patient and the practionner, which provides regular renewal of the patient's motivation.

Quality of life in newly-debuted epilepsy. An empirical study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to illuminate adult's experienced quality of life in newly-debuted epilepsy and to test the American instrument Quality of Life Index (QLI) for the first time on an epilepsy population. A second aim was to find appropriate questions to measure patient perceptions in epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All persons 18-65 fulfilling criteria (n = 41) and diagnosed during a 15-month period at 2 Swedish hospitals, answered questionnaires (n = 37/41) on quality of life and perceptions of epilepsy. RESULTS: Patients experienced the highest quality in the "Family" domain and the lowest in the "Psychological/spiritual". Significant correlations were found between quality of life and experienced change of life situation, own perceptions of epilepsy, seizure frequency after diagnosis, gender and side effects from antiepileptic drugs. The QLI was well applicable on people with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicates that debut of epilepsy has an evident impact on quality of life and a more extensive study is required.