Epidemio-Clinical Profile of Skin Conditions in Pediatric Dermatology Consultation of the University Hospital of Treichville

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoses are common in the pediatric population. They have certain particularities such as the prevalence of the diaper dermatitis and genetic disorders. Paediatric dermatological problems are common, with some conditions requiring specialist consultation. Often appropriate diagnosis and therapy are sometime delayed in certain countries. Few studies have focused on pediatric aspects of skin diseases in C?te d’Ivoire. We initiated this work to contribute to a better knowledge of pediatric skin conditions in our work context. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional prospective, descriptive and analytical study carried out in the Dermatology Department of the University Hospital of Treichville from January 2015 to December 2017. Data from the study were collected on a survey card that included socio-demographic characteristics and clinical aspects. All children with cutaneous and mucosal disease seen in pediatric dermatology consultation have been taken into account in the study. Results: 11,487 patients were seen in dermatology consultation during the period of our study with only 302 children, a prevalence of 2.6%. The sex ratio was 0.9. The main reason for consultation was pruritus (22.65%). In 63.9% of the cases the child was referred by a family member whereas more than 1/3 of the children (39.07%) had previously been consulted by a pediatrician. Among children referred with a skin diagnosis, the half had a correct diagnosis The most prevalent disorders by category were dermatitis (57.9%) and infections (29.5%). Multiple diagnosis were made in 9.27% of the patients. The most common pathologies encountered were prurigo (23.2%), scabies (12.9%) and atopic dermatitis (9.6%). The lesions were mainly located on the head (23.31%) and the lower limbs (20.51%). In almost all cases (99.3%), the diagnosis was essentially clinical. Conclusion: Pediatric dermatoses are numerous and varied. They are dominated by Prurigo and Scabies. This study invites for close collaboration between pediatricians and dermatologists in order to optimize their therapeutic management. The knowledge of this spectrum of pediatric skin diseases would be useful for future health planning in order to reduce disease burden.