Profile of atopic dermatitis patients admitted to pediatric allergy polyclinic

Objective: In this study, demographic characteristics, laboratory results and filagrin gene mutation data of children with atopic dermatitis were examined, and the relationship between disease severity and clinical manifestations were evaluated. Material and Method: 100 children with atopic dermatitis admitted to the Pediatric Allergy Polyclinic were enrolled in the study. Their medical history, physical examination results and patient file data were analysed retrospectively. Filaggrin gene mutations were investigated. Chi-square test and Fisher Exact Chi-square test were used in the analyses. For the comparison of quantitative data, Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed. Results: 53% of the patients who were enrolled were female, 47% were male. 73% of the patients who were referred were directed by pediatricians. Complaints of atopic dermatitis started at the age of 29.75±39.9 months. The most frequent symptom seen was pruritus (95%). 64% of patients had positive family story for atopic diseases. 43 patients had at least one concomitant disease, mostly food allergy, which was seen in 26 patients. Children whose complaints onset in the first 6 months of their lives had food allergy by 40.9%, whereas, this ratio was 7.9% for patients whose complaints began after 24 months. As socioeconomic status improved, supplementary nutrients started at an earlier age and complaints began at an earlier age. In skin prick tests of patients, 47 patients (51%) were positive. In foods, egg is the most frequent with 11 patients, the most frequent mite and alternaria positivity in 29 patients in inhalants. In 33 of the patients (39%) the phadiatop was positive. Over 2 years the phadiatop positivity was higher. The food specific Ig E skin prick test was found to be significantly higher in those who were positive and in those who were 6 months old. Conclusion: In this study, children with atopic dermatitis had the most common etiologic allergic sensitization. It was shown that those who started in the first 6 months were more intense than those who started after 24 months and the exposure of cigarettes significantly increased the incidence of atopic dermatitis. Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Food allergy, Skin test, IgE, Pruritus