Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by an itchy red rash that favors the skin creases such as folds of elbows or behind the knee affecting different are groups. Despite the pressing need for epidemiological studies to clarify the prevalence of AD, no previous research has been published out on the prevalence of AD at Bugando medical centre.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among patients attended at dermatology clinic at Bugando medical centre in January and February 2017.
Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study involving all patients attended at dermatology clinic at Bugando medical centre in January and February 2017.
Results: A total of 174 patients participated in this study. Mean age of study participants was 29.9 years with standard deviation of 19.362 years. Female participants were 98 (56.3%) and male were 76 (43.7). Preschool/underfive children (1-5 years old) were 27 (15.5%), school age children (6-17 years old) were 31 (17.8%), adults (18-59 years old) were 103 (59.2%) and elderly (>60 years old) were 13 (7.5%). Majority of patients 115 (66.1%) resided in urban areas while 59 (33.9%) patients were from rural settings.
In total 97 (55.7%) of patients were found to have atopic dermatitis table 2. Females had slight higher prevalence 56 (57.7%) compared to males 41 (42.3%) Tables 3. On assessing are groups, children underfive 22 (22.7%) had AD whereby within age category this group had highest prevalence of AD 22 (81.5%). School age children 19 (19.6%) had AD, equal to 61.3% of patients with AD in that category. Adults being a group with highest number of participants had prevalence of 51 (52.6%) but within age category the prevalence was lower 51 (49.5%). Elderly with AD were 5 (5.1%) making it a group lowest prevalence both overall and within group age 5 (38.5%). AD prevalence was higher in patients living in urban settings 66 (68.0%) compared to 31 (32%) of patients from rural settings.
Conclusion: Prevalence of atopic dermatitis among patients attended at Bugando medical centre is very high (55.7%) with underfive children being affected compared to other age groups.
Wurzburg Road 35, BMC Premises, Post Code: 33102: P. O. Box 1464, Mwanza – Tanzania: Phone: +255 28 298 3384: Fax: +255 28 298 3386: Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz : www.bugando.ac.tz