A STUDY ON CLINICAL PATTERNS OF CUTANEOUS INFECTIONS AND INFESTATIONS IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

Abstract

Skin conditions are a noteworthy medical problem in the pediatric age and are associated with increased morbidity. Cutaneous infections and ,infestations are common in children during school going age as there is expanded odds of cross transmission among themselves and to their families. AIM : To document the various clinical patterns of cutaneous .infections and .infestations among the children of school going age and to describe the disease distribution according to various factors like age, sex, socioeconomic status and seasonal variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 188 Children of 5-16 years of age diagnosed to be having a cutaneous infection/infestation at Dermatology OPD, Jalappa Hospital from Jan 2018 to July 2019 were included after obtaining informed written consent from parent/ guardian. RESULTS: Out of the total 188 cases, parasitic infestations (38.29%) were the most predominant among all infestations and infections followed by bacterial (21.80%), fungal (20.21%), and viral (19.68%). All types of infections were common in the age group of 10-14 years (38.29%), and in male population. Majority of patients belonged to lower middle class (34.57%). The bacterial infections (46.34%) and parasitic infestations (47.22%) were predominant in summer, fungal (36.84%) and viral (37.83%) infections were common during monsoon and winter respectively. CONCLUSION: The family members of the child has to be properly counselled and awareness to be created among the same regarding the hygiene, proper nutrition, immunisation to reduce the incidence of infections/infestations.