title: Quality of life in children and teenagers with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic Dermatitis is a disease which has increased during the past years despite our improved understanding of it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of Atopic Dermatitis in the quality of life of children and teenagers and their family.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional method with prospective data collection of 50 children and teenagers diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis ranging in age from 5-16 years. Fifty parents and/or guardians answered the quality of life questionnaires The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index and Family Dermatitis Impact Questionnaire. The socio-demographic and clinical variables were evaluated by a clinical record chart designed specifically for the research and socioeconomic standardized questionnaire by the Brazilian Association of Research Enterprises, which evaluates assets acquired and the educational level of the head of the household.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five out of the 50 patients were female (70%), and 28 (56%) of them were from social class C. The Questionnaire Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index showed that 19 (38%) patients ranged from 7 to 12 points (moderate impact of atopic dermatitis) and 17 patients (34%) ranged from 13 to 30 points (high impact of atopic dermatitis). The Family Dermatitis Impact Questionnaire revealed that 15 (30%) families had scores between 7 and 12 points and 22 families (44%) scored between 13 and 30 points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that there is a very high impact on the QoL for atopic dermatitis patients and their families. This makes us suggest the importance of including the quality of life study in clinical evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Service, Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. csfamaral@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Cláudia Soïdo Falcão do
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Bazhuni Pombo
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: Clemax Couto
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires