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The prevalence of common skin conditions in Australian school students: 2. Atopic dermatitis
Author(s) -
Robin Marks,
Monique F Kilkenny,
Anne Plunkett,
Kate Merlin
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02711.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , physical examination , confidence interval , family history , pediatrics , dermatology , family medicine , surgery
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) was recorded following examination by dermatologists and dermatology registrars of a random sample of 2491 school students throughout the State of Victoria, Australia. The overall prevalence, based on clinical examination, was 16.3% (95% confidence interval, CI 14.1–18.5), being higher in girls (17.7%; 95% CI 15.0–20.4) than boys (14.8%; 95% CI 11.8–17.8). Using the U.K. Working Party Diagnostic Criteria for AD reduced the prevalence to 10.8% (95% CI 9.3–12.3) with the prevalence in girls 12.3% (95% CI 10.1–14.4) and in boys 9.2% (95% CI 7.1–11.4). The prevalence was highest in 4–6 year olds (18.7% on clinical examination, 11.5% using the U.K. Working Party Criteria), decreasing with increasing age to 11.6% on clinical examination (8.6% on U.K. Working Party Criteria) among 16–18 year olds. Most of those with AD were classified as having mild disease (54.1%), with 32.1% classified as having minimal and 13.8% as having moderate to severe disease. Over 80% of those who reported on the questionnaire that they had dermatitis that was then confirmed on examination had been using one or more products to treat it. Nearly 90% of these products were classified as efficacious, with medical practitioners being the major source of advice for their use (77%). Pharmacists (8%), family/friends (6%) and others (9%), including beauticians and naturopaths, made up the remainder of the persons from whom those affected had sought advice about their treatment. These data, the first community‐based prevalence data on AD published from Australia, confirm that the condition is common among those of school age. There is a need for AD to be included among those conditions that are discussed in health education lessons in schools.