@article{3152489,
    title = "Skin diseases in Greek and immigrant children in Athens",
    author = "Katsarou, Alexandra and Armenaka, Melina and Kosmadaki, Maria and and Lagogianni, Eirini and Vosynioti, Vasiliki and Tagka, Anna and and Stefanaki, Christina and Katsambas, Andreas",
    journal = "International Journal of Dermatology",
    year = "2012",
    volume = "51",
    number = "2",
    pages = "173-177",
    publisher = "Wiley",
    issn = "0011-9059, 1365-4632",
    doi = "10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.04948.x",
    abstract = "Objectives This study aimed to characterize the spectrum of skin
diseases affecting children in Greece.
Methods We retrospectively studied data for 4071 children, aged 0-12
years, who were examined and diagnosed with dermatoses at the outpatient
clinic of a university dermatological hospital between December 2005 and
August 2007. To evaluate changes in disease patterns, these data were
compared with data for a cohort of 12,700 children diagnosed with skin
diseases at the same clinic two to three decades earlier (in 1977, 1980,
and 1983).
Results The most frequent disease was dermatitis/eczema (34.7%), with
atopic dermatitis found in 20.7% of children, contact dermatitis in
6.9%, pityriasis alba in 2.1%, and seborrheic dermatitis in 1.8%.
Infections (19.3%), nevi (5.6%), scabies (4.8%), and insect bites
(4.3%) followed. More viral (12%) than bacterial (3.7%) and fungal
(3.6%) infections were noted. Warts constituted 53.2% of viral
infections. Immigrants had an increased risk for bacterial infections
and scabies.
Conclusions Children diagnosed with skin diseases 24-30 years earlier
were younger; exhibited lower prevalences of dermatitis/eczema (P =
0.01), viral infections (P < 0.001) and nevi (P < 0.001); higher
prevalences of bacterial and fungal infections (P < 0.001) and insect
bites (P < 0.01); and similar rates of scabies (P = 0.17). This study
documents the high prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the region, the
increasing incidence of viral infections and nevi, and the continuing
problem of scabies, especially in immigrants."
}