A 5-year Retrospective Study on the Pattern of Pediatric Dermatoses from a Tertiary Care Center in Bihar

Introduction: Pediatric dermatoses require a separate view from adult dermatoses, as there are significant differences in clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis. Dermatoses in children are more influenced by socioeconomic status, climatic exposure, dietary habits, and external environments, which differ in different geographical areas within the country. Objective: This study aimed to assess the proportion and pattern of pediatric dermatoses along with factors contributing to these dermatoses and concurrent systemic illness at a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 18 years and below, presenting with skin disease, attending the Department of Dermatology of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, were enrolled consecutively in this 5-year retrospective cross-sectional study, leading to a sample size of 30,480. Results: This study included a total of 30,480 patients. The most common pattern of dermatoses was eczematous dermatitis, constituting 26.22%, followed by infection and infestation disorders (23.94%), appendageal disorders (19.24%), pigmentary disorders (12.91%), hypersensitivity disorders (6.04%), and papulosquamous disorders (6.56%). Atopic dermatitis was the most common eczematous condition. We observed a relatively higher proportion of miliaria, fungal infection, and periporitis, probably explained by the excessively hot and humid climate of Bihar. Conclusion: There are some specific patterns of disease along with similarities. Using these data, we can make more efficient health policy or health implementation programs with limited resources in a given area. It might also help to assess the changing trends of pediatric dermatoses and can be used for further clinical research.