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The spectrum of skin disease among Indian children

Kabir Sardana1, Supriya Mahajan, Rashmi Sarkar

  • 1Department of Dermatology and STD, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi, India. kabirijdvl@gmail.com

Pediatric Dermatology
|March 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric skin diseases in India are common, with infections and infestations being the most frequent. This study analyzed over 30,000 children, highlighting key dermatological conditions and diagnostic approaches.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Skin diseases are a significant health concern in children.
  • Accurate characterization of pediatric dermatoses is crucial for public health planning and research.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of childhood skin conditions informs targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the epidemiologic features of pediatric dermatoses in India.
  • To identify the most common skin diseases affecting children in a tertiary care setting.
  • To analyze diagnostic methods and referral patterns for pediatric skin conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study design.
  • Data collected from Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, from January 1997 to December 2003.
  • Inclusion of 30,078 children under 12 years with 32,341 new dermatoses.

Main Results:

  • Infections and infestations (47.15%) were the most common, followed by eczemas (26.95%).
  • Bacterial infections and scabies were the leading specific diagnoses within infections.
  • Most diagnoses were clinical; KOH mount and skin biopsy were primary diagnostic tests.
  • The 1-5 year age group represented the largest proportion of cases (44.94%).

Conclusions:

  • Infections and eczemas are the predominant pediatric skin diseases in this Indian setting.
  • Clinical diagnosis is often sufficient, with targeted use of diagnostic tests like KOH mounts.
  • Referral patterns indicate a high volume of primary pediatric care for dermatological issues.

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