Clinical Characteristics and Some Related Factors in Children with Prurigo Nodularis in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Prurigo nodularis in children can become chronic, lasting from several months to many years, triggered and sustained by environmental allergens. In Vietnam, prurigo nodularis is relatively common; however, few studies have been conducted on pediatric populations. AIMS: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and related factors of prurigo nodularis in children. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from December 2023 to June 2024. A total of 117 children participated in the study. Data were collected according to the study’s medical record template. RESULTS: The results showed that the proportion of male patients was higher than that of female patients (62.4% vs. 37.6%), with the highest proportion of cases in the under-6 age group (47%). Most patients lived in urban areas (88%). Nearly half of the cases had disease duration of < 12 months (42.2%). The onset rate on the legs was the highest (58.2%). Some related factors were herbal baths (1.7%), food allergies (8.5%), pet keeping (22.2%), insect bites (23.1%), family history of prurigo (24.8%), long fingernails (59.8%), and self-medication (73.5%). The rate of regular deworming was 93.2% of the children. Most patients experienced severe itching (97.4%), with the severity and activity level of the disease mainly at moderate levels (96.6% and 97.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Prurigo nodularis in children presents with diverse clinical characteristics. Factors such as food allergies, pet keeping, insect bites, and family history may play a role in triggering and maintaining the disease, but further research is needed.