Skin Diseases in A Sample of Under-Five Years Children and their Sociodemographic Characteristics at Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City/Baghdad

Abstract

Background:    Skin diseases are a big health problem affecting a high percent of the population and causing distress and disability. Children\'s skin is often regarded as smoother and softer than that of adults; as a result, it may be more susceptible to irritation and inflammation.
Objective:    To determine frequency and types of skin diseases in children less than 5 and to find some sociodemographic characteristics of those children.
Methods:    A cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City; the data were collected during March and April 2019. A convenient sample (262 under 5 years of age children) were selected from dermatological outpatient’s clinic by interviewing the parents of those children. 
Results: Out of this sample, 144 (55%) were males; atopic dermatitis in 79 (30.2%) constituted the highest percentage followed by diaper rash in 46 (17.5%) and warts were found in 28 (10.7%). Regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, 199 (76%) and 209 (80%) of the children starting solid food and bottle feeding less than 4 months age, respectively and 224 (85.5%) of the children were up-to-date vaccination.
Conclusion: Atopic dermatitis was the most frequent skin diseases in children under 5 years. Most of them were males, starting solid food and bottle feeding before 4 months. More than two third were taking their vaccination up to date.
Keywords: Skin diseases, under 5 years, Baghdad, atopic dermatitis and sociodemographic
Citation: Hussain NA, Alogaili MH, Mohammed LK. Skin diseases in a sample of under-five years children and their sociodemographic characteristics at Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City/Baghdad. Iraqi JMS. 2025; 23(1): 39-45. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.23.1.5