Prevalence of skin diseases among infants in a tertiary medical facility in Uttarakhand

Abstract

Numerous skin diseases affect children; however patterns differ according to geographical locations, age, sex, climatic conditions, seasonal, socioeconomic and environmental variations. Skin diseases constitute 30% of all outpatient visit to a pediatrician and 30% of all visits to a dermatologist involve children. 1,2 Infants in various studies constituted 15%, 20.33%, 25.2%, 11% and 25.46% of all paediatrics dermatoses cases. 3-7 In our case infants formed 32% of all preschool paediatrics patients who reported for dermatoses in pediatric dermatology clinic of department of DVL, in a tertiary care facility in Uttarakhand (SGRRIM & HS and Associated Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Dehradun). This prospective study was designed to evaluate the pattern of pediatric dermatoses in infants of Uttarakhand, India. It was conducted for a period of one year between 06 Sep 2013 to 05 Sep 2014. The setting was pediatric dermatology ABSTRACT Background: Skin diseases are common in infancy. This study aimed to determine to prevalence of various dermatoses in infancy in Uttarakhand. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of different dermatologic diseases in infant in Uttarakhand. Methods: A prospective study was carried out for one year from 06 Sep 2013 to 05 Sep 2014, to study prevalence and patterns of dermatological lesions in infants, a tertiary care health facility in Uttarakhand. A total of 234 infants of both sexes were seen during this period. Results: Of 234 patients 58.9% were males. Noninfectious dermatitis was the largest group of skin disorders in infancy, constituting 35.89% of total cases. Seborrheic dermatitis was commonest type of non-infectious dermatitis in infancy (42.85%) followed by atopic dermatitis (19.04%), Ptyriasis alba (14.28 %), contact and diaper dermatitis (7.14% each). Seborrheic dermatitis did not display any gender or seasonal bias. Infectious/ parasitic infestations formed second largest group of dermatoses in infants (26.92%) with commonest being fungal infections (49% cases of infectious group) followed by parasitic infestations (26.98%). Bacterial and viral infections were formed only 12.69% and 11.11% of infectious group cases. Nonfungal and nonparasitic infections showed higher incidence in summers. Conclusion: Out of 234 infants who attended paediatric dermatology clinic, major dermatoses were of noninfectious origin with seborrheic dermatitis forming largest group. Infectious etiology dermatoses constituted second major group with fungal and parasitic etiology. Nonfungal and non-parasitic dermatoses showed higher prevalence in summer months.

Clinicoepidemiology of Skin Diseases in Children Seen at the University Hospital Center Morafeno, Toamasina, Madagascar

“…Similar results were found in Côte d'Ivoire with a female predominance at 54.06% [ 3 ] and in Greece at 52.8% [ 6 ]. In Mali and India, it found a male predominance with, respectively, 55.10% and 58% [ 1 , 4 ].…”

“…These skin disorders give uneasiness and anxiety of parents. Many studies concerning pediatric dermatoses have been carried out in Africa and the rest of the world [ 1 – 4 ]. Environmental factors play a significant role in skin disease.…”

A study of dermatoses in patients attending pediatric OPD in a tertiary care hospital of Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

“…This is comparable to the study by Jitendra Singh Bist et al (35.8%). 8 In the studies by Saurabh Sharma et al, dermatitis was present in 27.3% patients and in the study by Jawade S et al, it was 20.6%. 11,19 Diaper dermatitis was the commonest dermatitis in infants (20.9%).…”

“…2,8,10,11 According to different school based surveys, the incidence of skin diseases amongst children was found to be ranged from 8.7% to 38.8% in various parts of India. 12 Paediatric dermatoses requires a different view from adult dermatoses as there are important differences in clinical presentations, treatment and prognosis.…”

“…6,7 The pattern of dermatoses may differ according to the geographical area, age, gender, climatic conditions, seasonal, socio-economic and environmental variations. 8 Malnutrition and pyoderma are more prevalent in developing countries while eczemas are more common in developed countries. Different climatic, cultural and socioeconomic factors may be responsible for development this different representation.…”