A clinico-epidemiological study of non-infectious dermatoses in children between 6-12 years of age

• Author Details:   
• Farzana Begum Raj Mohammed ^*
• K Harsha Vardhan

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Background: Non-infectious dermatoses in children encompass a wide range of skin conditions unrelated to infectious agents. These disorders are often influenced by nutritional status, climate, genetics, and socioenvironmental factors. Paediatric dermatoses can significantly affect the quality of life and maybe underdiagnosed because of overlapping features with infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical patterns of non-infectious dermatoses in children aged 6–12 years who attended a tertiary care dermatology outpatient department.

Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 190 children aged 6–12 years for 1 year at a multispecialty teaching hospital in Puducherry between October 2019 and October 2020. All patients with non-infectious dermatoses were included. Clinical history and systemic and mucocutaneous examinations were performed, and relevant investigations (KOH mount, Gram stain, Tzanck smear, skin biopsy, and CBC) were performed as required.

Results: Of the 190 patients, 52.1% were men and 47.9% were women. Most children (82.1%) were symptomatic, with pruritus being the most common complaint. Eczematous dermatoses were the most common (44%), followed by papulosquamous disorders (30%), hypersensitivity reactions (9%), and photodermatoses (3%). Other observed conditions included pigmentary (2.5%), keratinisation (2%), appendageal (2.5%), nail (1.5%), and hair (1.5%) disorders, and drug reactions (1%). Rural children comprised the majority (68.4%).

Conclusion: Non-infectious dermatoses are prevalent in school-aged children, with eczematous and papulosquamous disorders being the most common. Awareness, early diagnosis, and targeted treatment are essential for managing morbidity and improving quality of life.