Prevalence of skin diseases among pediatric patients in Turkey

Abstract

The pediatric population is composed of persons under 16 years of age, and few studies are available on the dermatological diseases of this group. In the present study, data on a total of 6300 pediatric patients admitted between the years 2004-2006 were analyzed. Hospital-based patient registry records were used for data collection. The data were analyzed according to age, sex and time of admittance. A female preponderance (53%) was observed, and adolescents (12-16 years old) constituted the largest group within the patient population (47.6%). A total of 125 dermatoses were recorded. Acne vulgaris was the most prevalent dermatosis (12.4%), followed by atopic dermatitis (11.8%), contact dermatitis (11.3%), warts (9.5%), seborrheic dermatitis (4.3%) and impetigo (4.1%). Atopic dermatitis was the most frequently seen dermatosis in both infants and preschool-age children, whereas contact dermatitis was more prevalent in school-age children, and acne vulgaris was more prevalent in the adolescent group. The frequencies of some diseases showed seasonal variations. Acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, xerosis and alopecia areata were more common in winter. In contrast, insect bites, vitiligo, dyshidrotic eczema, impetigo and tinea corporis were more common in summer. Studies of the pediatric population, which constitutes the cornerstone of the community, can play an important role in determining the policies of protective medicine and public health. New studies will help us to better understand the frequency of dermatological diseases in the pediatric population according to age, gender and season, and take precautions with regard to these conditions.

Superficial Fungal Infections in Children

“…In our country, the rates vary between 3.8 and 6% in studies on SFI (10)(11)(12). In this retrospective study we performed in 20716 pediatric patients, we detected the incidence of SFI as 2.5%.…”

“…In this study in 23235 children between 7 and 14 years, the ratio was detected to be 0.01% (26). The ratios were between 0.10 and 3% in the other studies in Turkey (12,13,26,28,31). Balci et al detected onychomycosis in a pediaric screening involving 8122 children between 5 and 16 years of age (0.018) (35).…”

“…In children, it occurs at a rate of 1% (30). The rate ranges between 0.07 and 08% in Turkish studies (3,12,14,24). In the foreign literature, the rates were as follows: 0.23% in Spain, 26.9-62.5% in Nigeria, 68% in India and 78% in Egypt (3, 6, 9, 29).…”

“…In children, T. Capitis is a common dermatophyte infection (11,12). It is common in children between 2 and 10 years of age before puberty.…”

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients in Dermatology Clinic

“…Dermatoloji yatan hasta birimleri; akut ürtiker, anjioödem veya otoimmün büllöz hastalıklar gibi hayatı tehdit edebilecek şiddetli veya komplike hastalığı olan, kendi tedavisini mevcut imkanlarıyla uygun bir şekilde yapamayacak (yaşlı, immobil, bakıma (5). Türkiye'den bildirilen başka bir çalışma ise 0-16 yaş arası 6300 kişide yapılmış ve en sık akne vulgaris, atopik dermatit ve kontakt dermatit saptanmıştır (6). Başka bir çalışmada dermatoloji polikliniğine başvuran, 1-99 yaş arası 11,040 hastada ise en sık akne vulgaris, fungal enfeksiyonlar ve kontakt dermatitler bildirmiştir (2).…”