BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of AD on the quality of life of children and their families establishing correlations with scores of disease severity.MethodsIt was carried out an observational study of the correlations between clinical indicators of severity and a questionnaire on quality of life: IDQOL. The study also included scoring of eczema severity – ISAAC. One hundred seventeen children with AD, fulfilling established diagnostic criteria, and 396 children with no dermatologic diseases were investigated for the effect of eczema on quality of life. Pearson's correlation was used for the correlation analysis and the comparison between the groups was carried out using the Mann-Whitney test.ResultsData analysis demonstrated significant differences between the scores for the 2 groups. The mean score in the eczema group was 9.2 (range 1–19) for IDQOL. The highest scoring questions for IDQOL referred to itching and scratching, mood changes and problems caused by treatment. For the ISAAC, the highest impact domains were treatment-related expenditure and sleep disturbance affecting family members.ConclusionsAD has a negative impact on the quality of life of pediatric patients and their families. The individuals dealing with AD and their families need more than just the physical treatment of symptoms. Educational and psychological support for patients and their families in addition to medical treatment of AD may improve their long-term physical outcomes.

BackgroundUpper Respiratory Infections are the most common diseases in childhood. It is possible to get even with no risk factors; although, if there are more factors, the higher it is the probability of illness.MethodsIt was carried out an analytic study of cases and controls to identify risk factors associated with Recurrent Upper Respiratory Infections (RURI) in children under 5 years old from Habana Vieja municipality between January and June of the 2008, 40 children with RURI were studied selected by convenience sampling and 40 controls. Surveys were relatives. The group of cases was compared with the group control and then it was analyzed if the exhibition factor was associated to the RURI by means of the test of square chi, for that which was considered as significant a P <0.05 in which case the test of odds ratio was applied (OR) to determine if really the factor or characteristic is or not of risk.ResultsThe most common was RURI was Adenoiditis with 18 cases (45%). All the cases had personal and family history of allergy, compared with 37.5% and 62,5% respectively in controls; (OR = 25.4 P = 0.0001 and OR = 16,3 P = 0.001). The adequate breastfeeding was more frequent in controls (OR = 2.5 P = 0.048). 70% of the cases were exposed to the smoke of the tobacco, and controls only 25% (OR = 8.2). 92.5% of the homes of the cases and 70% of the controls had animals, especially dogs. The cold (92.5%), temperature changes (80%) and humidity (80%) were considered environmental risk factors in this study (OR = 14.5 P <0.001; OR = 16.5 P < 0.001, OR = 13.2 P <0.002).ConclusionsRisk factors affecting the RURI are: personal and family history of allergy, inadequate breastfeeding, exposure to the smoke of tobacco and the presence of domestic animals, cold, changing weather and humidity.