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Juvenile spring eruption: a prevalence study
E Tan1, J Eberhart-Phillips, K Sharples
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
Aims:
To measure the prevalence of juvenile spring eruption of the ears in Dunedin primary school aged children. To characterise the population of children affected by juvenile spring eruption in New Zealand.
Methods:
Children attending three primary schools were examined for evidence of clinical and preclinical juvenile spring eruption on a single occasion in the late spring. Ear protuberance, hair cover and other factors related to sun exposure were assessed.
Results:
The overall prevalence of clinical juvenile spring eruption was 6.7% (95% confidence interval = 4.7% to 7.5%). The prevalence in males was 12% (95% CI = 7.3% to 17%). Lack of hair cover and protuberant ears (75th percentile or greater) were strongly associated with clinical juvenile spring eruption. There was no evidence of an association between clinical juvenile spring eruption and skin tone, hair colour, time spent outdoors, sunscreen use, and hat use.
Conclusion:
Juvenile spring eruption is a relatively common dermatological condition among primary school aged children in Dunedin, especially boys.