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Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Prevalence of skin diseases in school-age children
Therdpong Tempark1, Khwaunrat Whaidee2, Chansuda Bongsebandhu-Phubhakdi1
1Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Background:
The prevalence of community-based skin diseases, especially among school-age children, depends on topography, climate, and age of population.
Objective:
We determined the prevalence of skin diseases among community-based primary school-age children and identified demographic characteristics in relation to particular skin conditions.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey study of a subproject school cohort in children aged 5-14 years of 2 community-based primary schools. Demographic data and whole-body skin examination were collected. The association of individual skin conditions was analysed by using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression.
Results:
A total of 556 children were enrolled in this study. Of these, 90.2% had at least 1 skin disease. The most common skin disease was postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) (58.3%), followed by nevus/mole (40.1%), insect bite reaction (28.0%), acanthosis nigricans (20.0%), acne (13.7%), and pityriasis alba (12.9%). There was an increase of body mass index (BMI) in PIH and acanthosis nigricans with the adjusted odds ratios of 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.87, P < 0.001) and 1.93 (95% CI 1.49-2.49, P < 0.001), respectively. Insect bite reaction was related to PIH with the adjusted odds ratio of 5.66 (95% CI 3.15-10.17, P = 0.001).
Conclusions:
The most common skin disease in community-based primary school-age children is PIH which related to acanthosis nigricans and insect bite reaction. A decrease of BMI may lower the risk for PIH and acanthosis nigricans. Education on common skin diseases is recommended for both community-based schools and school-age children.
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