Prevalence and Patterns of Genital Dermatoses in Children

Introduction External environment, dietary habits and socioeconomic status influence paediatric skin diseases. A prospective study was conducted from December 2011 to July 2013 to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of genital dermatoses in children attending D. V. L. & Paediatric OPDs, Government General Hospital, Kakinada. Materials and methods After informed consent, 200 children of 1-18 years with genital dermatoses confirmed by relevant bed side laboratory investigations were enrolled in the present study. They were grouped based on age as toddlers (1-3years), preschool (3-6 years), school going (6-10 years) and adolescents (9-18 years). Results Out of 200 children, 132 males and 68 females, 25.9 % were school going. Out of 173 children having infective dermatoses, 80.35 % were hostel residents, mostly from rural area belonging to low (42.2 %) and middle (57.8 %) socio-economic status. The most common infective dermatoses in preschool children was bullous impetigo (8.12 %) and in adolescents genital scabies (21.46 %), tinea cruris (5.22 %) and molluscum contagiosum (2.5 %). Out of 27 children with noninfective dermatoses, 74.07 % belong to low socio-economic status. Nutritional deficiency and phrynoderma was in 5 % and genital vitiligo in 3 %. Traumatic ulcer, Fordyce spots, burns, lichen planus, lichen striatus, hemangiomas and phimosis were the other non-infective dermatoses found. Conclusion Communicable diseases like scabies, bacterial infections, fungal infections and nutritional deficiencies are more prevalent in school going children reflecting the status of health, poverty, lack of personal cleanliness and nonavailbility of soaps and antifungals. Our study suggests the need for health education, better nutrition and protection from child sex abuse in schools and hostels.