Pattern of pediatric dermatoses at a referral centre

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Dermatological Epidemiology

Background:

• Skin disorders are common in children, impacting their health and well-being.
• Understanding the prevalence of pediatric dermatoses is crucial for effective healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the spectrum of skin diseases affecting children.
• To establish the epidemiological patterns of pediatric dermatoses in a tertiary care setting in Bangalore.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted from January 2011 to June 2011.
• Inclusion criteria comprised all pediatric patients (≤18 years) presenting with skin diseases to the Pediatric Dermatology Outpatient Department.
• Data on patient demographics and diagnosed dermatoses were systematically recorded.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,090 new cases and 1,118 dermatoses were documented.
• The most frequent conditions were infections and infestations (32.47%), followed by eczematous eruptions and dermatitis (20.66%).
• Papulosquamous disorders (6.08%) and pigmentary disorders (5.81%) were also significant, with acne (5.28%) and insect bite reactions (5.1%) noted.

Conclusions:

• Bacterial infections and scabies remain the leading pediatric dermatoses in this region.
• Molluscum contagiosum and atopic dermatitis were also common findings.
• Childhood psoriasis represented a substantial proportion of papulosquamous disorders.