Dermatological Diseases among children Attending Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital-Outpatient Department of Dermatology

Abstract

Background: Pediatric age groups are liable for different types of dermatological diseases but very few epidemiological study concentrate upon dermatological diseases in pediatric age group in our locality. Aim: to determine the pattern of dermatological diseases of both types (infectious and non-infectious) affecting Iraqi children attending Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. Patients and method An observational cross-sectional study was carried in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital- Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Baghdad, Iraq; registering the new cases of children aged (1-13) years who brought to the department over the period between 12-1-2009 to 12-6-2009 and excluding infants and follow up cases. The included cases were assessed by history dermatological examination and simple investigation (whenever needed) to achieve the diagnosis. Descriptive and analytical statistics were done to obtain the prevalence and relationship of their diseases to age, sex, order of the child in the family, family history of the same illness, hygienic standers and economic status. Results: Eighty three children included in this study; 37males and 46 females with a male to female ratio of1:1.24Their ages ranged from 1-12 years with mean age of4.8± 3.6 SD. Of them 37.3% have non infectious diseases, 32.5% have infectious diseases; and 30.1%have both infectious diseases and non-infectious in the same child. Of the non-infectious diseases eczema was the most common followed by papulosquamus disorders, pigmentary disorders and other diseases. Of the infectious diseases bacterial infection was the most common followed by the viral, the parasitic and then the fungal infections. There was significant association between eczema and family history of the same illness; also significant association was present between parasitic infestation and number of children sharing the same room.. Conclusion: The noninfectious conditions were slightly higher than infectious conditions; of them eczema was the most prevalent while bacterial infection was the most common among infectious conditions. There was significant association between eczema and family history of the same illness; also significant association was present between