Epidemiology of eczema among adolescents aged 13-14 years from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: an analytical cross-sectional study

Introduction: Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition with characteristic dry, itchy skin with visible lesions. The epidemiology of eczema among adolescents is distinct from that of children and adults.Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study recruited 13-14-year-old adolescents from government secondary schools in the Anuradhapura municipal council area, Sri Lanka. The validated International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood questionnaire was used to assess the epidemiology of eczema including the association with demographic, domestic, dietary and allergen factors.Results: The study sample consisted of 1029 participants(528 male, 501 female) with 826(80.3%) 13-year-olds and 203(19.7%) 14-year-olds. The majority were born in the Anuradhapura district(n=931, 90.5%). One hundred and twenty-eight(12.4%) adolescents have had at least one episode of an itchy rash that was periodical at least for six months and 72(7.0%) had a rash in the preceding year. Most of the adolescents developed these symptoms after 5 years of age(n=55, 76.4%). The prevalence of eczema was 3.2%(n=33, 95%CI 2.1–4.3). Comorbid severe asthma (OR 6.7; 95%CI 3.16-14.07), using kerosene lamps for lighting (OR 6.35; 95%CI 1.79-22.54), having close contact with domestic animals (OR 2.29; 95%CI 1.03-5.09), presence of smokers in the house(OR 2.58; 95%CI 1.04-6.40) and female sex(OR 1.95; 95%CI 0.92-4.12) were independently associated with eczema.Conclusion: The prevalence of eczema among adolescents of the Anuradhapura municipal council area was 3.2% and it is not different from previously reported prevalence in preschool children of the district. Identified independently associated factors could be used for targeted public health interventions.