Patterns of Infant Dermatoses – A Cross Sectional Study in A Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Background: The stage of infancy lasts from birth to 12 months of age (WHO).Infant Dermatosis is quite different from adult dermatosis.The objective of our study is to find out various patterns of infant dermatosis in eastern India. Methods: The cross sectional study was done in Nilratan sircar Medical college & Hospital for a period of one year (April 2015 to March 2016). The study was carried out on 600 infants. As per different patterns of skin manifestations, the infants were divided into two groups -neonatal and post neonatal. After studying the individual infants' history, the relevant clinical examinations and investigations(clinically doutful cases) were carried out.Diseases were tabulated accordingly. Results: In neonatal group physiological conditions were predominant (65.3%) whereas infections were prevalent in post neonatal period (54.8%). Among the infectious conditions parasitic infections (25.3%) were most common followed by bacterial (12.2%), viral(10.2%),and fungal infections (7.1%). Sweat gland disorders (14.5%) were commonest after infections and prevalent in older age group. Seborrheic dermatitis was commonest among dermatitis and equally prevalent in both groups (10%). Conclusion: Infants are vulnerable to various types of infections (bacterial,viral,fungal).Infected family members may be source of chronicity of infections.Though various physiological conditions are very common in neonatal age group which needs proper explanation and counseling of parents. Infections and non infectious dermatitis are also prevalent which need proper treatment.

Patterns of infant dermatoses: An observational study from the dermatology outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center

“…[5] All infants belonging to the post-neonatal age group who manifested parasitic infestation in their study had scabies. [5] We also found scabies as the only parasitic infestation among study participants. We found scabies in 7.4% of infants older than 28 days, while none of the neonates had parasitic infestation.…”

“…Physiological conditions (65.3%) and infections (54.8%) predominated in the neonatal and post-neonatal period, respectively, in another study from a tertiary care center in Eastern India. [5] Current study was not designed to assess physiological skin changes of newborn since it was carried out in the outpatient clinic of the dermatology department. An accurate description of physiological skin changes in newborn would only be possible in studies that recruit participants from the newborn nursery.…”

“…is was contradictory to certain previous studies that observed a higher frequency of parasitic infestations and bacterial infections. [5,12,13] Samanta and Achar in their study conducted at a tertiary referral center noted parasitic infestations in 3.3% of neonates and 25.3% of infants older than 28 days. [5] All infants belonging to the post-neonatal age group who manifested parasitic infestation in their study had scabies.…”

“…[5,12,13] Samanta and Achar in their study conducted at a tertiary referral center noted parasitic infestations in 3.3% of neonates and 25.3% of infants older than 28 days. [5] All infants belonging to the post-neonatal age group who manifested parasitic infestation in their study had scabies. [5] We also found scabies as the only parasitic infestation among study participants.…”

“…e sample size calculated was 262 based on the frequency of infections (43%) noted in infants with dermatoses in a previous study (p = 43%, d = 6%). [5]…”