Ann Dermatol.  2014 Feb;26(1):26-34. 10.5021/ad.2014.26.1.26.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Atopic Dermatitis in Kerman, a Desert Area of Iran

• Farajzadeh S
• Esfandiarpour I
• Sedaghatmanesh M
• Saviz M

• KMID: 2265694
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2014.26.1.26

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic studies of atopic dermatitis (AD) in desert areas are still lacking.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of AD in children in Kerman city, a desert area in Iran.
METHODS
We evaluated preschool children (age, 2 to 7 years) and primary school students (age, greater than 7 up to 12 years) in Kerman. We selected 865 students to estimate the prevalence and assess other features of AD such as distribution of lesions, personal history, family history of atopy, aggravating factors, associated symptoms, and morphological variants.
RESULTS
The prevalence of AD was 9.1% in our study population. The prevalence of AD was 9.17% and 9.09% in males and females, respectively. The prevalence of AD in the age range of 2 to 7 years was 13.53% and 8.33% among children aged greater than 7 up to 12 years. In total, 82.27% of the patients were in chronic stage of the disease, and 31.6% had a personal history of other atopic diseases. At least one first-degree family member with atopy was seen in 46.83% of the patients. The most common sites of involvement were the head and neck. The most involved areas in the limbs were extensor surfaces. The most frequent morphological variant of AD was the common type.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of AD in Kerman was higher than in other Iranian cities but lower than that in developed countries. Diversity in the clinical features of AD has been observed among different studies, and the diagnostic criteria of AD should be adapted in proportion to the studied area.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Epidemiology; Kerman; Preschool and primary school children; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Developed Countries
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology*
Extremities
Female
Head
Humans
Iran*
Male
Neck
Prevalence

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Data collecting sheet for demographic and clinical features of atopic dermatitis in school and preschool age children in Kerman city.

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