Risk Factors Influencing Growth in Children with Atopic Dermatitis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for growth delay of infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of therapeutic elimination diets. METHODS: We studied 67 infants with AD aged from 6 to 23 months, who were managed with conservative treatments for more than 3 months in Samsung Medical Center, and compared with 56 normal age-matched infants. Height and weight for age and weight for height were converted to Z score to evaluate their growth. Basic characteristics including birth characteristics, heights and weights of parents, and socioeconomic status of parents were surveyed by the questionnaire. The 24-hour recall method, assessment of all foods eaten on the day prior to the interview, was performed to evaluate dietary intake. A P value <0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The mean Z scores of height and weight (-0.10+/-1.10 and -0.41+/-0.91, respectively) in male patients were decreased more than those in healthy age-sex-matched controls, (0.44+/-0.77 and 0.07+/-0.77, respectively) (P=0.032 and 0.039 for each) while female infants did not show any difference. Severity of AD, socioeconomic status of parents, duration of breast feeding, and birth characteristics were not different between patient and control groups. Zinc levels of both groups, especially patients, was lower than recommended dietary allowances (RDA). CONCLUSIONS: Infants with AD were shorter than control group, while they did not show nutritional problems. Our study suggests that longitudinal growth assessment should be performed on infants with AD and it may be helpful in counseling about the prognosis of growth.