Environmental factors associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis in Cotonou and Parakou, Benin, in 2020

Background: Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory chronic disease. The objective of the study was to assess the influence of environmental factors on the severity of atopic dermatitis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at a pediatric department in Cotonou and Parakou among children aged 0–17 years with atopic dermatitis. The severity of atopic dermatitis was assessed using SCORAD. Data on environmental factors was collected on the fields or by asking questions to the parents. Results: Sixty-seven girls and forty boys were included using the United Kingdom Working Party criteria. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis was 5.1%. The mean age at the onset of disease was 36.06 +- 42.48 months. Pruritis was present in 97.2% of the cases and sleep disturbing in 25.2% of the cases. Common eczema was present in 44.8% of the cases and follicular eczema in 11.2%. Mild to severe atopic dermatitis were observed in 68.8%. Factors associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis were dry season, light wind’s rate, some foods such as maize, sorghum, millet, eggs, okra, use of a cream called Sinzaa. Firewood, coal, domestic gas, pets (dogs, cats), garden, dust, mold, and the number of people in the room were not associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis. Discussion: Local foods were the environmental factors that had an influence on the severity of atopic dermatitis in our study. Conclusion: Some environmental factors had an influence on the severity of atopic dermatitis in Cotonou and Parakou, Benin. Key words: Atopic dermatitis severity, Environmental factors, Children, Beni