Spectrum of Paediatric Dermatoses in a Private Medical College

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoses in children puts a huge burden on the parents as well as their development. Severity of these dermatoses vary from location to location. Environment plays an important role, especially in children and presentation of these dermatoses maybe quite different than those in adults. Methods: This is a six months prospective study. All children who presented to the Paediatrics / Dermatology OPD with any skin ailment were included. Diagnosis was done clinically, investigations if required were done. Based on age, cases were divided into six groups. Skin disorders were categorized into 17 groups. The demographic data and other clinical details were recorded on a pre-designed performa. Results: 206 children were included in our study. Males were 136 (66.01%) and females were 70 (33.98%) with M:F ratio 1.94:1. The spectrum of skin diseases were infections and exanthems (40.29%), eczematous diseases (19.41%), disorders of sebaceous and sweat glands (13.10%), papulosquamous diseases (6.31%), hypersensitivity syndromes (5.82%), disorders of pigmentation (5.33%), disorders of hair and nail (3.39%), cutaneous tumor and tumor syndromes (1.94%), vascular disorders (1.45%), disorders of cornification (0.97%), photo-dermatoses(0.97%), histiocytosis and malignant skin tumors (0.48%), and miscellaneous (0.48%). Dermatoses according to age were neonatal (0.97%), infant (4.36%), toddlers (9.70%), preschool (18.44%), school-age-children (30.58%), and adolescents (35.92%). Conclusions: Skin infections and infestations being the majority explains the status of developing countries like India. This study can help identify (or diagnosing) and treating common dermatological conditions in children and this would also sensitize our fellow paediatricians to this common but often neglected aspect of childcare.