EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL-PATTERN OF ATOPIC-DERMATITIS IN A NORTH INDIAN PEDIATRIC POPULATION

Various epidemiologic factors and clinical patterns of atopic dermatit is (AD) were evaluated in 672 children. Of these, 210 were infants (up to 1 year) and 462 were children. Mean age at onset and mean duration of the disease:were 4.2 months and 3.3 months, respectively, in the ' 'infantile AD'' group. In the ''childhood AD'' group the corresponding figures were 4.1 years and 1.9 years. in both groups, patients from u rban areas significantly outnumbered those from rural backgrounds. In the infantile AD group, the disease was aggravated in winter in 67.14% , in summer in 23.36% and in spring in 9.51% of patients. The correspo nding figures in the childhood AD group were 58% in winter, 32.92% in summer, 7.43% in spring, and 1.74% in the rainy season. In the infanti le AD group, personal and family history of atopy were seen in 0.91% a nd 36.19% of patients, respectively. No patient had a history of drug allergy. In the childhood AD group, 15.35% had a personal history of a topy, 36.44% had a family history of atopy, and 7.36% had both a perso nal and family history of atopy. A history of drug allergy was reporte d in 3.16% of children. In the infantile AD group, 79% had facial invo lvement, 42% had flexors affected, and 5.70% had both flexors and exte nsors affected. The types of eczema seen were acute in 52.72%, subacut e in 23.35%, chronic in 23.35%, and follicular in 0.46%. in the childh ood AD group, 74.50% had facial involvement, 35.53% had flexural invol vement, 56.32% had extensor involvement, and 8.24% had both flexors an d extensors involved. Acute eczema was seen in 28.79%, subacute in 23. 38%, chronic in 47.40%, and follicular in 0.43% of the children.