title: Skin diseases in Greek and immigrant children in Athens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to characterize the spectrum of skin diseases affecting children in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied data for 4071 children, aged 0-12 years, who were examined and diagnosed with dermatoses at the outpatient clinic of a university dermatological hospital between December 2005 and August 2007. To evaluate changes in disease patterns, these data were compared with data for a cohort of 12,700 children diagnosed with skin diseases at the same clinic two to three decades earlier (in 1977, 1980, and 1983).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent disease was dermatitis/eczema (34.7%), with atopic dermatitis found in 20.7% of children, contact dermatitis in 6.9%, pityriasis alba in 2.1%, and seborrheic dermatitis in 1.8%. Infections (19.3%), nevi (5.6%), scabies (4.8%), and insect bites (4.3%) followed. More viral (12%) than bacterial (3.7%) and fungal (3.6%) infections were noted. Warts constituted 53.2% of viral infections. Immigrants had an increased risk for bacterial infections and scabies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children diagnosed with skin diseases 24-30 years earlier were younger; exhibited lower prevalences of dermatitis/eczema (P = 0.01), viral infections (P < 0.001) and nevi (P < 0.001); higher prevalences of bacterial and fungal infections (P < 0.001) and insect bites (P < 0.01); and similar rates of scabies (P = 0.17). This study documents the high prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the region, the increasing incidence of viral infections and nevi, and the continuing problem of scabies, especially in immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece. alkats.duoa@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsarou
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armenaka
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosmadaki
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagogianni
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vosynioti
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagka
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanaki
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsambas
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*