Common conditions and factors associated with diaper dermatitis

Abstract

In 1983, a questionnaire study was carried out to ascertain the types and principal causes of diaper dermatitis. Questionnaires were sent to 3,942 nursery personnel, and 1,773 responses were received. Diaper dermatitis was classified into six types according to distribution of skin lesions: type I was rash on the whole area in contact with the diaper; type II, eruptions on pubis, external genitalia, and intergluteal folds; type III, peridiaper rashes; type IV, psoriasis-like dermatitis; type V, perianal noduli; and type VI, partial eruptions of infantile dermatitis. According to questionnaire responses, type II dermatitis was seen most frequently (73.6%), followed by type I and type III (17.3%), type V (4.5%), type IV (1.7%), and type VI (1.5%). Erythema blastomyceticum infantile (EBI) must be differentiated from diaper dermatitis. EBI is due to Candida infection. Topical steroids are assumed to be a promoting factor of EBI.