title: [Atopic keratoconjunctivitis in patients of the pediatric dermatology ambulatory in a reference center].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency of atopic keratoconjunctivitis, its symptoms and changes in patients of Pediatric Dermatology Service of 'Santa Casa de Misericordia de São Paulo' Hospital with a previous diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with atopic dermatitis under 16 years old (mean age 8.9 +/- 4.1 between 2 and 16 years old) were evaluated through a protocol of questions and assessment of signs and symptoms. The signs and symptoms were graded from 0 (absent) to 4 (highest intensity), and in some cases only as present or not. The analysis was descriptive and statistical, with a 5% significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of atopic keratoconjunctivitis was 76.9% among the 52 patients with atopic dermatitis, including atopic conjunctivitis (26.7%) and atopic blepharitis (50.2%). Atopic dermatitis is more frequent in female patients and atopic conjunctivitis in male. Age was practically the same in both groups. The most frequent symptoms were red eye and itching, especially in the atopic conjunctivitis group. Itching was the most intense symptom and was present in all patients of the atopic conjunctivitis group. Blepharitis and papillae were the most common signs. Other signs were less frequent. The tear break-up time was changed in most patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of atopic keratoconjunctivitis was 76.9% in patients with atopic dermatitis. Itching was the most frequent symptom, followed by red eye, in patients with atopic conjunctivitis. Blepharitis and papillae were the most frequent signs in patients with atopic conjunctivitis. Due to the increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children, it would be prudent to perform a routine ophthalmologic evaluation of these patients. From the patients evaluated in this study, none had been previously monitored with ophthalmological exams.
authors.affiliation: Setor de Doenças Externas e Córnea, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Irmandade da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. bernardokaplan@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Bernardo Kaplan
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Moscovici
authors.forename: Andréa Santucci
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cesar
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki-Dantas
authors.forename: Silvia A Soutto
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Alessandra Cristine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Marta
authors.forename: Junia Cabral
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology