Incidence and Clinical Pattern of Dermatoses in Children Attending the Tertiary Health Care Centre

Background: Dermatological conditions are prevalent among school-age children due to their delicate skin and increased vulnerability to infections and allergens.Such disorders induce significant discomfort in the affected child and considerably influence the overall quality of life for both the child and their family.It is imperative to comprehend the patterns of dermatoses within this demographic to facilitate effective treatment and management approaches.Methods: Children aged between 5 to 14 years presenting with dermatological conditions at the dermatology outpatient department were included in this study.A pre-structured proforma was utilized to document all cases.A comprehensive medical history was obtained.Clinical assessment and pertinent laboratory investigations were conducted to verify diagnosis in cases of uncertainty. Results:The study comprised a total of 1631 patients.The male children were predominantly represented, particularly within the 11-14-year age group, which exhibited a higher percentage in our study population.The most frequently observed conditions were infections and infestations.The subsequent common dermatoses were eczema disorders, followed by sebaceous, hypersensitivity, pigmentation, cornification, papulosquamous, hair and nail disorders, vesiculobullous and insect bite reaction.Among the infections and infestations, parasitic infestations were the most prevalent (18.1%), followed by fungal infections (16.2%), bacterial infections (9.6%), and viral infections (5.2%).Pityriasis alba emerged as the most common eczematous condition (4.4%). Conclusion:The predominant pattern of dermatoses identified in our study was infestations and infections, succeeded by eczematous disorders.An in-depth understanding of the dermatosis pattern among school-aged children will facilitate the implementation of crucial modifications in health education and disease control strategies in the respective region, thereby mitigating skin-related ailments in children.