Comparative epidemiologic study of skin diseases in foreign children and children of Spanish origin in Alicante, Spain.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies in Spain have shown that the foreign and immigrant populations can have different diseases to Spanish-born individuals. However, no comparative study has specifically investigated foreign children in Spain.


METHODS
The objective of the study was to compare skin diseases in foreign children with those in children born in Spain of Spanish parents. We included all patients under 15 years of age who were seen in our dermatology department between January 2007 and December 2007.


RESULTS
During the study period, 3108 pediatric patients were seen in the dermatology department. Of these, 2661 (85.6%) were Spanish and 447 (14.3%) were foreigners. Foreign children sought medical care more often (11.4%) than Spanish children (6%) (P<.001) and made less use of the specialist outpatient clinic (59.6% vs 68.8% [P<.001]) and more use of emergency care. Complaints observed more frequently in the foreign children were scabies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 10.6; 95% CI, 4.71-24.10), arthropod bites (aOR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.14-6.87), hypopigmentation (aOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.06-6.44), and atopic dermatitis (aOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.19-2.31). Melanocytic nevus was observed more frequently in Spanish children (aOR, .50; 95% CI, .30-.83).


CONCLUSIONS
Differences between children born in Spain of Spanish parents and foreign children were found for type of visit and frequency of skin diseases.
Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Unidad de Dermatología, Hospital Marina Baixa, Villajoyosa, Alicante, España. Electronic address: mariaperezcrespo@hotmail.com.
M
M
Pérez-Crespo
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de San Juan, Alicante, España.
J M
JM
Ramos-Rincón
Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
M P
MP
Albares-Tendero
Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de San Juan, Alicante, España.
I
I
Betlloch-Mas
D002648:Child; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Atopic dermatitis; Children; Dermatitis atópica; Dermatosis; Immigration; Inmigración; Pediatrics; Pediatría; Población infantil; Skin diseases