Abstract
Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of AD on the quality of life of children and their families establishing correlations with scores of disease severity.
Methods
It was carried out an observational study of the correlations between clinical indicators of severity and a questionnaire on quality of life: IDQOL. The study also included scoring of eczema severity – ISAAC. One hundred seventeen children with AD, fulfilling established diagnostic criteria, and 396 children with no dermatologic diseases were investigated for the effect of eczema on quality of life. Pearson's correlation was used for the correlation analysis and the comparison between the groups was carried out using the Mann-Whitney test.
Results
Data analysis demonstrated significant differences between the scores for the 2 groups. The mean score in the eczema group was 9.2 (range 1–19) for IDQOL. The highest scoring questions for IDQOL referred to itching and scratching, mood changes and problems caused by treatment. For the ISAAC, the highest impact domains were treatment-related expenditure and sleep disturbance affecting family members.
Conclusions
AD has a negative impact on the quality of life of pediatric patients and their families. The individuals dealing with AD and their families need more than just the physical treatment of symptoms. Educational and psychological support for patients and their families in addition to medical treatment of AD may improve their long-term physical outcomes.