Korean J Community Nutr.  2010 Dec;15(6):776-782.

Associated Factors with Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

• Lee JS
• Jo S
• Lee H
• Ahn K
• Chung SJ

Abstract

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased over the past decades. A variety of factors are related to the development of atopic dermatitis, including genetics and environmental factors. The purpose of the study was to examine factors associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in 104 children aged 6-60 months. To investigate the association between severity and other factors children were divided into two groups, mild (n = 62) and severe (n = 42) groups, based on SCORAD index which measures the severity of atopic dermatitis. Results showed that family history, family's smoking, period of having AD and the levels of the serum total IgE were significantly higher in severe group. More than 6 months of breastfeeding and weaning after 6 month were not associated with severity of AD, but the number of food eliminated was associated with severity. Only vitamin C intake was significantly different by severity after adjusting for energy intake, family history, family's smoking and period of having AD (p = 0.033). There was no association between the severity of atopic dermatitis and growth of children. This study concluded that the severity of atopic dermatitis was associated with family history, family's smoking, period of having AD, children's serum total IgE, and vitamin C intakes. The result of this study should provide the significant information for better management of AD.

Keyword

atopic dermatitis; children; severity; food eliminated; nutrient intakes; management

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ascorbic Acid
Breast Feeding
Child
Dermatitis, Atopic
Energy Intake
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Prevalence
Smoke
Smoking
Weaning
Ascorbic Acid
Immunoglobulin E
Smoke