Determinants of Atopic Dermatitis among Children in a General Out-Patient Clinics of a Tertiary Hospital in North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory, and itchy skin condition that develops in early childhood in the majority of cases.

Aim: The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with atopic dermatitis among children aged 6 months to 14 years seen at the General Out- Patients Clinics of a tertiary hospital in north central Nigeria as well as predictors of having AD.

Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross- sectional study of 490 eligible children recruited using the systematic random sampling technique. The data collected were analyzed using statistical  package for social sciences, version 22. Descriptive and inferential statistics was performed to determine the relationship between independent variables  and having AD.

Results: The factors significantly associated with AD from this study include: male sex (χ = 4.78, P = 0.029), Being in nursery school (χ =  77.60, P = 0.000), Nupe ethnicity (χ = 49.06, P = 0.000), mothers and fathers Educational level (χ = 27.80, P = 0.000), having personal or family history of  atopy (χ = 31.30, P = 0.000). After all variables that are significant was adjusted; Nursery level of education (OR = 4.076, 95% CI = 1.679‑9.891, P = 0.002),  Mother’s Level of education (OR = 0.664, 95% CI = 0.442‑0.998, P = 0.049), and personal or family history of atopy (OR = 5.585‑E12, 95% CI =  5.585‑E12‑5.585‑E12, P = 0.000) were independent predictors of AD.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that AD has a specific pattern of inheritance in children  and this was predicted by: nursery level of education, mother’s level of education, and family or personal history of atopy. Knowledge of this will provide a  better caring strategy for predicting and preventing AD earlier in at risk children.