Atopic dermatitis epidemiology in Kaunas City

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease characterized by inflamation of skin, itch and appearing rash. It is the most common chronic skin disease among children. 15-20% of children all over the world have atopic dermatitis and growth in prevalence is observed over three decades, especially in Europe (1).Aim: To assess prevalence of atopic dermatitis and its characteristic symptoms (itchy rash, rash of typical body areas (elbow fold, popliteal areas, front surface of ankle, buttocks, neck), waking up at night because of itch) and change in prevalence (1994-2013) among children of different age in Kaunas city.Methods: An anonymous survey of children 6-7 and 13-14 years of age was conducted in randomly chosen education institutions. There were 826 participants (6-7 years – 305, 13-14 years – 521). An ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire was used. Statistic analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 software package. To test hypotheses of qualitative variables Chi square test was used. To compare low percent probabilities exact Fisher test was used. Data was considered statistically significant when p<α (α=0,05). Results: 145 boys and 160 girls in 6-7 year group, 250 boys and 271 girl in 13-14 year group were examined. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in 6-7 year group grew from 1,4% in year 1994 to 3,5% in year 2002 and 4,3% in year 2013 (p<0,05), in 13-14 year group – from 1,8% in year 1994 to 2,2% in year 2002 and 2,7% in year 2013 (p<0,05). Manifestation of atopic dermatitis symptoms in 6-7 year group: itchy rash grew from 6,4% in 2002 to 6,9% in 2013, rash of typical body areas grew from 3% in 2002 to 3,3% in 2013, waking up at night because of itch grew from 0,7% in 2002 to 1,63% in 2013(p<0,05); in 13-14 year group: manifestation of itchy rash grew from 5,0% in 2002 to 5,2% in 2013, rash of typical body areas grew from 1,8% in 2002 to 2,5% in 2013, waking up at night because of itch grew from 1,3% in 2002 to 1,7% in 2013 (p<0,05). Comparing prevalence of atopic dermatitis in boys and girls, prevalence of atopic dermatitis in 6-7 age group among girls grew from 3,4% in 2002 to 4,4% in 2013 (p<0,05), among boys from 1,5% in 2002 to 4,1% in 2013 (p<0,05). In 13-14 year group prevalence of atopic dermatitis among girls grew from 2,9% in 2002 to 3,7% in 2013 (p<0,05), among boys from 1,5% in 2002 to 1,6% in 2013 (p<0,05).Conclusions: 1. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis grew statistically significantly among children 13-14 years of age from 1,8% to 2,7% and in 6-7 year group growth in prevalence was statistically insignificant. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis symptoms grew in both age groups, but growth was statistically insignificant. Most common symptom – itchy rash. 2 In both age groups growth in prevalence of atopic dermatits symptoms was greater in girls, but difference was statistically insignificant.