Infectious skin disorders encountered in a pediatric emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Argentina: a descriptive study

Background Infectious skin disorders ( ISD s) are commonly seen in pediatric emergency departments ( PED ), however the exact frequency is unknown. We provide an accurate evaluation of the incidence and characteristics of ISD s diagnosed in a PED from Buenos Aires, Argentina, over a 1‐year period. Methods Prospectively, descriptive study of children evaluated in the PED with ISD s during 2016. ISD s were analyzed on the basis of their incidence, patient demographics, seasonal variations, and hospitalization rates. Results ISD s were diagnosed in 1680 (67.9%) of the skin consultations (M/F: 1.1; mean age: 4.4 ± 3.7 years). Bacterial infections were observed in 932 (55.5%) cases. Viral infections were seen in 604 patients (35.9%). Fungal and parasite skin infections were diagnosed in 33 (2%) and 111 (6.6%) children, respectively. The most frequent ISD s according to the etiology group were impetigo 377 (22.4%), varicella 397 (23.6%), tinea capitis 10 (0.6%), and scabies 109 (6.5%). A higher frequency of ISD s were reported during the summer (38.4%) and spring (38.2%) months. Bacterial skin infections were more frequent during the summer months, while viral skin infections were more prevalent during spring. Parasitic skin infections were diagnosed more frequently during the winter months. No differences were seen for mycotic skin infections. Hospitalization rate was 1% (all for bacterial skin infections). Conclusion Our data reveal the extremely high frequency of ISD s seen at the PED , underlying the need for closer cooperation between dermatologists and pediatricians.