Risk factors of Atopic dermatitis in Shahrekord schoolchildren

ABSTRACT

Atopic dermatitis is one of the common skin diseases of childhood that creates considerable side effects on patients, their families and the health care system. This study was carried out to identify both prevalence rate and risk factors of the disease in Shahrekord schoolchildren in 2003. In a cross-sectional study from all Shahrekord schoolchildren. 1500 students [750 female, 750 male] were randomly selected and the questionnaires of atopic dermatitis were distributed among the selected students and then collected after being filled by their parents then all selected students were examined by a general physician. Suspected students were examined by a dermatologist and an ophthalmologist. The serum IgE of students with any evidence of AD was then serologically tested and the collected data were analyzed with both X[2] and student-t test. The mean ages of students participated in the survey was 9.2 +/- 1.4 years. According to AD criteria, the prevalence rate was 2.1 percent [32 students]. There was no significant statistical relationship between sex and age with atopic dermatitis prevalence rate, but there was significant statistical relationship between AD prevalence rate and signs and symptoms of asthma, allergic renitis, family history of the atopic dermatitis and atopy [p<0.05]. Our results showed that atopic dermitis was more frequently seen in those individual with asthma, allergic renitis, familial history for atopic eczema or familial history for atopic dermitis. But no relationship between atopic dermitis and age as well as sex was observed