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Is eczema really on the increase worldwide?

Hywel Williams1, Alistair Stewart, Erika von Mutius

  • 1Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. hywel.williams@nottingham.ac.uk

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|December 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Worldwide childhood eczema prevalence is leveling or decreasing in some developed nations but increasing in many developing countries, particularly among younger children. This trend indicates a complex global shift in eczema epidemiology.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Global prevalence of childhood eczema remains uncertain.
  • Investigating secular trends is crucial for understanding disease patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine worldwide trends in childhood eczema prevalence.
  • To analyze changes over time in different global regions and age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phases One and Three.
  • Surveyed over 490,000 children aged 6-7 and 13-14 years across 105 centers in 55 countries using validated questionnaires.
  • Defined eczema as an itchy, relapsing, flexural rash and severe eczema by sleep disturbance.

Main Results:

  • Eczema prevalence changes varied by age and region.
  • In 13-14 year olds, prevalence decreased in some developed countries but increased in developing countries.
  • Most 6-7 year olds showed increased eczema symptoms, with similar patterns for severe eczema.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood eczema epidemic appears to be stabilizing or declining in some high-prevalence developed countries.
  • Many developing countries are experiencing significant increases in eczema, especially in younger children.
  • Global eczema trends are complex and regionally diverse.
Abstract

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