Eczema

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of different types of eczema inpatients presenting in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive typeof study. Setting: Hamdard University Hospital Karachi. Period: January 2013 till December2013. Patients and Methods: All new cases of any type of eczema were registered by nonprobabilityconvenient sampling. Total 192 patients of both genders and all ages were enrolledafter taking informed consent. Diagnosis was made on detailed history and clinical examinationby consultant dermatologist. All specific and relevant investigations were done accordingto requirement. Patients were divided in two groups, exogenous eczema and endogenouseczema, for convenience. Data was analyzed by the latest version of SPSS. Results: Therewere 192 patients, out of which 52.08% were males and 47.91% females. Out of the totalpresented patients 50% had endogenous eczema, 43.37% had exogenous eczema and25.62% had unspecified eczema. In endogenous group 11.45% had hand dermatitis followedby seborrhoeic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and asteatotic eczema in descending frequencyof presentation. Pityriasis alba, discoid eczema and pompholyx were seen less frequent. Inexogenous eczema allergic contact dermatitis was seen in 14.06% patients, while irritant contactdermatitis in 11.45% patients. Infective eczema and photo-allergic eczema were seen in smallnumber of patients. Conclusion: It was found in this study that allergic contact dermatitis wasmost common type of eczema followed by other types. Whatever the type is, eczema can betreated, symptoms can be relieved and recurrences can be prevented by appropriate therapy.All types of eczema affect patient’s quality of life adversely. However, they can be prevented byeducating patients and their relatives to take adequate safety measures like using good qualityemollients prophylactically.