Spectrum of common childhood skin disease: a single centre experience

To assess the pattern of childhood skin diseases and to analyze the attitude towards consultation and self-treatment. Children with complaints of skin diseases visiting outpatient department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and National Institute of Child Health were enrolled in this study during the period of May 2002 to July 2003. A detail performa was filled in, for all the patients. 250 cases were finally analyzed in 15 months duration. The diseases were sub-classified on etiological basis e.g. infectious [bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic] immune mediated, congenital, allergic and miscellaneous. The children's sex, race, age, duration, history of previous treatment and family and past history for skin or systemic diseases were noted. Of all the patients visiting the outpatient department [OPD], 31% were children with skin diseases. Infectious skin diseases were the commonest [60%]. Among the infections, fungal were maximum [20.6%], followed by bacterial diseases [12%]. Eczemas constituted 21% of skin diseases and 6.4% children had congenital skin conditions. Previous treatment history was present in 43.6% patients. Antibiotics [topical and/or systemic] were taken by 28.4% of patients; whereas history of steroids [topical and/or systemic] was present in 15.2% of patients. Most children [550] had a normal weight and 13.6% were severely malnourished. Skin diseases are fairly common in children especially infectious skin diseases. Eczematous and allergic skin diseases are also frequently encountered in children. Self medication is a common practice. Topical steroids were the most commonly used medications