Patterns of skin diseases among pediatric patients attending the pediatric dermatological clinic at King Hussein Medical Center

Abstract EN

Objectives : This study was conducted to determine and highlight the spectrum and patterns of skin diseases among pediatric patients attending the pediatric dermatological clinic at King Hussein Medical Center and Queen Rania Abdullah Hospital for Children.

Methods : All newly diagnosed pediatric patients who presented to the outpatient clinic of pediatric dermatology clinics between February 2008 and March 2013 were included in the study.

Inclusion criteria included patients with skin disease below the age of 15 years.

Patients were divided into three age groups: infant, preschool and school age children.

Skin diagnosis was made clinically and laboratory investigations were ordered when necessary.

Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the study variables.

Results : A total of 5,004 patients were included in the study.

Some subjects had more than one disorder.

The age ranged from one day to 15 years with a mean of 8.6 ± 7.4 years.

There were 2,577 males (51.5 %) and 2,427 (48.5 %) females, with a male to female ration of 1.1 : 1.

Preschool children were more frequently affected than other children.

Analysis of underlying etiologies revealed that the majority of dermatoses were infections and infestations (35.3 %), followed by eczema (30.1 %) and hypersensitivity reaction (6.5 %).

Conclusions: Skin diseases are common in children especially the preschool age group with no significant difference between genders.

The most common skin disease in this study was cutaneous infections followed by eczema.

Higher consanguinity, overcrowding and hot humid environment may explain the high prevalence of infections.