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Atopic dermatitis in young children: diagnostic criteria for use in epidemiological studies based on telephone
Christine Stabell Benn1, Eva Benfeldt, Per Kragh Andersen
1Department of Epidemiology Research, Danish Epidemiology, Science Centre, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. cb@ssi.dk
Insights
Establishing diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis in young children via telephone interviews is feasible. This method enables reliable identification of pediatric atopic dermatitis in large epidemiological studies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Atopic dermatitis is a common skin condition in young children.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for epidemiological studies.
- Telephone interviews offer a scalable method for data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reliable diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis in 1.5-year-old children.
- To validate these criteria for use in telephone-based epidemiological studies.
- To assess the feasibility of diagnosing pediatric atopic dermatitis through interviews.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100,000 pregnant women was followed.
- Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted when children were 1.5 years old.
- A subset of mothers reporting itchy rash or atopic dermatitis had their children examined by a dermatologist.
Main Results:
- An algorithm combining itchy rash/doctor-verified atopic dermatitis, recurrent rash patterns, and specific lesion locations demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity.
- 37 out of 60 children (62%) were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis by a dermatologist.
- The established criteria accurately identified atopic dermatitis in young children via telephone interviews.
Conclusions:
- Telephone interviews can be effectively utilized to diagnose atopic dermatitis in young children.
- The developed diagnostic criteria are suitable for large-scale epidemiological investigations.
- This approach facilitates efficient and reliable data collection for pediatric atopic dermatitis research.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to establish diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis in 1.5-year-old children that could be employed in epidemiological studies of atopic dermatitis based on telephone interviews. In a Danish cohort of 100,000 pregnant women, 4 computer-assisted telephone interviews were carried out. In the last interview, conducted when the child was 1.5 years old, mothers were asked about their child's skin condition. Eighty-one women who had answered that their child suffered from either an itchy rash or atopic dermatitis were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 60 took part in the study and had their child examined by a dermatologist. Affirmative answers to 1) itchy rash or doctor-verified atopic dermatitis and 2) recurrent rash or rash for at least 4 consecutive 0.5-month periods, and 3) localization in elbow creases, behind the knees, wrists/hands, face or generalized rash resulted in the highest sensitivity and specificity for atopic dermatitis as diagnosed by the dermatologist, who found 37 of 60 children (62%) suffering from atopic dermatitis. Using this algorithm, telephone interviews can be used to diagnose atopic dermatitis in young children in large-scale epidemiological investigations.
