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Skin diseases in children in Singapore
1Middle Road Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Singapore
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Singapore's development over 3 decades shows improved living standards.
- This has led to a shift in common skin diseases from infections to eczemas.
- Paediatric dermatology cases constituted 13% of new cases at Middle Road Hospital in 1986.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the changing patterns of skin diseases in Singapore.
- To identify the most common dermatoses among children in 1986.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of new dermatology cases at Middle Road Hospital in 1986.
- Categorization of dermatoses by age group and specific diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Eczemas were the most prevalent condition (32.0%), followed by viral warts (6.8%) and scabies (3.2%).
- Atopic dermatitis was a significant component of eczema cases (14.5%).
- The prevalence of pyodermas and malnutrition-related skin conditions has decreased.
Conclusions:
- The pattern of pediatric skin diseases in Singapore mirrors that of other developed Asian urban centers.
- Eczema and atopic conditions are now the leading dermatoses in children.
- Public health improvements have influenced the epidemiological profile of skin diseases.
Abstract:
Singapore has developed over the past 3 decades with improvement in housing, nutrition and general health. The pattern of skin diseases has changed from conditions like pyodermas and malnutrition to predominantly eczemas. The paediatric cases seen at Middle Road Hospital consist of 13% of general dermatology cases (509 of 37,964 total new cases in 1986). About 2.7% (138) of the children were below 1 year, 32.5% (1630) were below 1-4 years and 64.5% (3251) were below 14 years of age. The ten most common dermatoses (1986) follow a similar trend in most of the developed towns of Asia. This includes eczemas 32.0% (1603 cases); 14.5% (730) of atopics, non-specified eczemas 9.6% (481), hand eczema 4.1% (209), contact dermatitis 1.7% (90), discoid eczema 1.15% (57), seborrhoeic 0.7% (36). The remaining are viral warts 6.8% (342), scabies 3.2% (302), acne 3.7% (180), pyoderma 3.5% (175), dermatophytes 3.3% (169), urticaria 2.6% (134), pityriasis rosea 0.1% (51) and vitiligo 0.09% (46).