Foley P, Zuo Y, Plunkett A, Marks R
The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine (Dermatology), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy 3065, Victoria, Australia.
Arch Dermatol. 2001 Mar;137(3):293-300.
To determine the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis in a stratified cross-section of preschool-age children examined throughout Victoria, Australia.
A cross-sectional skin survey using a selected cluster sample of the various centers throughout Victoria.
The study population included Victorian children attending child-care centers, preschools, and Maternal and Child Health Centres, with the reference population being Australian children aged 5 years and younger.
Of 1634 potential participants, 1116 children (68.3%) were examined.
A dermatologist performed a total skin examination, including head and neck, limbs, and trunk, on all children. The diaper area was examined in children younger than 12 months.
All parents were administered a questionnaire to elicit demographic information, history of skin conditions, and family history of skin problems or related diseases. The examiner recorded the presence, site, and severity of atopic dermatitis for calculation of age- and sex-specific prevalence rates.
The age- and sex-adjusted point prevalence was 30.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.0%-33.5%). Most children (63.7%) were classified as having minimal or mild disease. Only 5.8% of children with atopic dermatitis did not have face or flexural involvement. Of the 237 children with atopic dermatitis and information available, 209 used 1 or more products to treat their condition.
Atopic dermatitis is common, decreasing in prevalence after the first 3 years of life. Most children have mild disease requiring little if any treatment, and much could be prevented with simple measures. Educational programs directed at those caring for preschool-age children that provide information on simple preventive measures, where practical, and sources of advice for treatment, if necessary, could substantially reduce the morbidity of this condition in predisposed children.
确定在澳大利亚维多利亚州接受检查的学龄前儿童分层横断面中特应性皮炎的患病率和严重程度。
采用在维多利亚州各中心选取的整群抽样进行横断面皮肤调查。
研究人群包括在维多利亚州参加儿童保育中心、幼儿园和母婴健康中心的儿童，参考人群为5岁及以下的澳大利亚儿童。
在1634名潜在参与者中，对1116名儿童（68.3%）进行了检查。
皮肤科医生对所有儿童进行全面的皮肤检查，包括头颈部、四肢和躯干。对12个月以下的儿童检查尿布区域。
向所有家长发放问卷，以获取人口统计学信息、皮肤疾病史以及皮肤问题或相关疾病的家族史。检查人员记录特应性皮炎的存在情况、部位和严重程度，以计算特定年龄和性别的患病率。
年龄和性别调整后的时点患病率为30.8%（95%置信区间[CI]，28.0%-33.5%）。大多数儿童（63.7%）被归类为患有轻度或中度疾病。仅有5.8%的特应性皮炎儿童面部或屈侧未受累。在237名有特应性皮炎且有可用信息的儿童中，209名使用了1种或更多产品来治疗其病情。
特应性皮炎很常见，在生命的前3年后患病率下降。大多数儿童病情较轻，几乎不需要治疗，通过简单措施可预防很多病例。针对照顾学龄前儿童的人员开展教育项目，提供实用的简单预防措施信息以及必要时的治疗建议来源，可大幅降低易感儿童这种疾病的发病率。
