EVALUATION OF HANIFIN AND RAJKA’S MINOR CLINICAL FEATURES AMONGST PAEDIATRIC ATOPIC DERMATITIS CASES, AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH EASTERN INDIA.

• Shreeni Chatterjee,*  
• Bhaskar Gupta,  
• Debajit Das

Abstract

Background: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common, highly pruritic, chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder, typically starting in childhood with eczematous lesions and most often associated with personal or family history of “atopy”. Hanifin and Rajka’s criteria is the most common diagnostic criteria used in the hospital setup, which consists of 4 major and 23 minor criteria. The frequency of minor criteria may vary population wise. Aim: The aim of the study is to estimate the frequency of minor diagnostic criteria of Hanifin and Rajka in children with AD. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study of 70 children (≤16 years) with AD, was conducted based on history, clinical, and ophthalmological examination. Results: The most common minor criteria observed were Dennie–Morgan infraorbital fold (71.8%), early age of onset (67.8%), palmar hyperlinearity (67.8%), xerosis (67.2%), pityriasis alba (57.5%), and perifollicular accentuation (47.7%). There was history of exacerbation in winter in 12% of the patients. Conclusion: There is variation in the clinical features of AD according to geography and population. Its prevalence and severity are influenced by several factors like ethnic/racial, and environmental factors. Hence, it is important for dermatologists to have a keen knowledge about common clinical features of AD in a given population for the diagnosis and thereby provide treatment to reduce the morbidity.

Keywords

Atopic dermatitis, children, Hanifin and Rajka’s criteria, North-east India