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. 2017 Apr 3:10:99-104.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S130126. eCollection 2017.

A retrospective epidemiological study of skin diseases among pediatric population attending a tertiary dermatology referral center in Northern Greece

Efstratios Vakirlis  1 , Grigorios Theodosiou  1 , Zoe Apalla  1 , Michael Arabatzis  1 , Elizabeth Lazaridou  1 , Elena Sotiriou  1 , Aimilios Lallas  1 , Demetrios Ioannides  1
Affiliations

A retrospective epidemiological study of skin diseases among pediatric population attending a tertiary dermatology referral center in Northern Greece

Efstratios Vakirlis et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Background: The incidence of skin diseases in children is influenced by hereditary, social, and environmental factors. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of pediatric dermatoses at a University Hospital in Northern Greece.

Patients and methods: We reviewed epidemiologic data of 940 patients, aged 0-18 years, who were referred to the outpatient clinic of a University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015. Demographic data and the frequency of the various diagnoses in various age groups were studied.

Results: Nine hundred and forty children and adolescents with 1020 diagnoses were included in the study (52.8% females and 47.2% males). The 10 most frequent diagnoses were: dermatitis/eczema (31.5%), viral infections (12.5%), pigmentary disorders (7.4%), melanocytic nevi (5.8%), alopecia areata (5.8%), acne (5.6%), nail disorders (3.3%), vascular malformations and hemangiomas (2.9%), psoriasis (2.6%), and bacterial infections (2.6%). Atopic dermatitis was the most prevalent dermatosis in all age groups accounting for a total of 20.9% of the study population. A remarkably high incidence of various forms of mastocytosis (2.2%) was seen in our data.

Conclusion: Atopic dermatitis is the most frequent pediatric dermatosis in all age groups. Viral infections, pigmentary disorders, and nevi account for a significant proportion of the referrals. The high incidence of mastocytosis in our study may be attributed to overdiagnosis, overestimation due to the relatively small study population, or it may represent the real incidence of mastocytosis in our region. The low incidence of acne in our study may be attributed to the fact that only severe cases are referred to our hospital.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; epidemiology; infection-viral; mastocytosis; pediatric dermatology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of dermatitis/eczema group (percentage).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Types of viral infections by age group (number). Abbreviation: HFMD, hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Atopic dermatitis over the study years in various age groups (percentage).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma: thick yellow-brown, well demarcated, parchment-like hyperkeratosis involving the palms and soles. (B) Uricaria pigmentosa: widespread reddish brown papules and urtication of some lesions upon trauma (Darier’sign). (C) Morphea: An atrophic hypopigmented patch with a diffuse rim of erythema. (D) Vitiligo: a well-demarcated patch of depigmentation around vulva and anus.
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