Clinical characteristics and estimation severity of the atopic dermatitis in children

Clinical characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in children were analyzed, and severity of illness was estimated using SCORAD point system index and Three Item Severity score (TIS) index. The research was done at the Clinic for Children Diseases in Tuzla. The inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of AD according to Hanifin and Rajka criterions, age up to 15. The exclusion criteria were: not meeting the criteria for an AD diagnosis, over 15 years of age, usage of anti-histamines in the last 5 days and/or usage of corticosteroids in the last 4 weeks, and diagnosis of other illnesses that do not have atopic foundation. The analysis included: clinical characteristics, parameters of both score systems and correlation of SCORAD and TIS indices. The conditions of research were met by 261 children (128 boys and 133 girls), with median age of 16.8 +/- 5.4 months. The early occurrence of AD changes (before the second year of life) were present in 51.3% of children, the positive anamnesis for AD was found in 17.2% of children, changes in AD typical localization in 96.6% of children, oversensitivity to food in 47.5% and airborne allergens in 12.3% of children. The values of SCORAD index were ranging from 14-92 (median 37.1 +/- 18.06) and a significant correlation of the parameter to the total value of SCORAD index (distribution p = 0.0002; intensity p = 0.001; subjective symptoms p < 0.0001). The values of TSI index were ranging from 1-8 (median 4.3842.03) with the significant correlation of parameter to the total value (for erythema p < 0.0001; for edema p < 0.0001; and for excoriation p = 0.0007). When comparing the SCORAD and TIS index values, we found significant correlation (r = 0.531; p < 0.0001). TIS index as a simplified SCORAD index is reliable for the quick estimate of illness in daily medical work, but in clinical research SCORAD index offers a much more detailed and reliable estimate.