Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2003 Dec;13(4):227-237.

Nationwide Study for Epidemiological Change of Atopic Dermatitis in School Aged Children between 1995 and 2000 and Kindergarten Aged Children in 2003 in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Medical College, Korea.
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University, Korea.
  • 5Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University, Korea.
  • 6Department of Pediatrics, Korea University, Korea.
  • 7Department of Pediatrics, Ulsan University, Korea.
  • 8Department of Pediatrics, Ajou UnivUniversity, Korea.
  • 9Department of Pediatrics, Kwandong University, Korea.
  • 10Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
  • 11Department of Pediatrics, Inje University, Korea.
  • 12Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University, Korea.
  • 13Department of Pediatrics, Jeonju Jesus Hospita, Korea.
  • 14Department of Pediatrics, Saesungmo Hospital, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis outside of North America and Europe. We evaluated the nationwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000, and between Seoul and provincial cities in Korea. We also evaluated the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional ISAAC based questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren (6 to 15 year olds) in 1995 and 2000. And kindergarten children (5 year olds) were surveyed in 2003, throughout South Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime and last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis was higher in Seoul than in other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Seoul and Provincial Centers became similar in 2000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The further evaluations that include objective examination are necessary to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their life styles.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Children; Epidemiology

MeSH Terms

Child*
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Epidemiology
Europe
Humans
Korea*
Life Style
North America
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Seoul
Skin Diseases
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