The spectrum of paediatric dermatoses in a university hospital in Cairo, Egypt.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological data on paediatric dermatoses in Egypt are scanty.


OBJECTIVE
To study the spectrum of paediatric dermatoses in Cairo.


METHODS
The medical records of children attending the dermatology outpatient clinics of Ain Shams University hospital for the year 2001 were retrieved. Data of 3049 patients were included. Demographic data (age and gender) and diagnoses were extracted, coded and analysed.


RESULTS
Patients' attendance peaked in summer (42.57%) and revealed female predominance (1.3:1). Infections constituted most of dermatoses (52.87%) and impetigo was most common (12.04%). Hypersensitivity came after (18.6%), and contact dermatitis prevailed (6.03%). Females predominated in most dermatoses. Bacterial infections were the most common in both genders. Age distribution revealed prevalence of bacterial infections in infants and preschool children, parasitic infections in school children and sebaceous gland disorders in adolescents. Parasitic infections prevailed in winter and spring, whereas bacterial infections prevailed in summer and autumn. Most dermatoses peaked in summer except urticaria and chicken pox that peaked in spring.


CONCLUSIONS
Infections outnumbered other paediatric dermatoses parallel to the situation in developing communities. Such diseases are potentially controllable and therefore strategies that target infections may represent a key to an efficient child health care programme.
El-Khateeb
E A
EA
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. ekramy.elkhateeb@med.asu.edu.eg
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology