The spectrum of paediatric dermatoses in a university hospital in Cairo, Egypt

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on paediatric dermatoses in Egypt are scanty. OBJECTIVE: To study the spectrum of paediatric dermatoses in Cairo. METHODS: The medical records of children attending the dermatology outpatient clinics of Ain Shams University hospital for the year 2001 were retrieved. Data of 3049 patients were included. Demographic data (age and gender) and diagnoses were extracted, coded and analysed. RESULTS: Patients' attendance peaked in summer (42.57%) and revealed female predominance (1.3:1). Infections constituted most of dermatoses (52.87%) and impetigo was most common (12.04%). Hypersensitivity came after (18.6%), and contact dermatitis prevailed (6.03%). Females predominated in most dermatoses. Bacterial infections were the most common in both genders. Age distribution revealed prevalence of bacterial infections in infants and preschool children, parasitic infections in school children and sebaceous gland disorders in adolescents. Parasitic infections prevailed in winter and spring, whereas bacterial infections prevailed in summer and autumn. Most dermatoses peaked in summer except urticaria and chicken pox that peaked in spring. CONCLUSION: Infections outnumbered other paediatric dermatoses parallel to the situation in developing communities. Such diseases are potentially controllable and therefore strategies that target infections may represent a key to an efficient child health care programme.