Abstract
Background: The clinical course of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is affected by age-related physical and social factors. Childhood AD can be complicated by allergens, bacterial infection, stress, and inadequate treatment with skin care and topical corticosteroids, resulting in deterioration; moreover, some of severe AD cases require hospitalization. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and complicating factors of childhood AD by age group through the analysis of hospitalized cases. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 82 cases of severe AD hospitalized in Miyagi Children's Hospital from November, 2003 to November, 2012. Results: Twenty-seven out of the 82 cases (33.0%) were infantile cases, that presented with significantly more electrolyte imbalance and lower protein levels than the older cases. In addition, more of the infantile cases were born in the autumn months, and hospitalized in the winter months, compared with the older cases. In all age groups, the major complicating factors were inadequate skin care, and the prescription and application of topical corticosteroids. Doctors and parents tended to apply corticosteroids less frequently in the infantile cases, and the older cases were often severe because of poor adherence to the prescribed topical therapy. Conclusion: Adequate skin care and application of topical corticosteroids are standard therapies in childhood AD, and these are essential for the prevention of severe childhood AD. Infantile AD should be treated carefully, particularly because they are more severe AD cases in infants than in other age groups.
