Original Article Section: Dermatology Patterns of Infant Dermatoses -A Cross Sectional Study in A Tertiary Care Centre

ABSTRACT Background: The stage of infancy lasts from birth to 12 months of age (WHO).Infant Dermatosis is quite different from adult dermatosis.The objective of our study is to find out various patterns of infant dermatosis in eastern India. Methods: The cross sectional study was done in Nilratan sircar Medical college & Hospital for a period of one year (April 2015 to March 2016). The study was carried out on 600 infants. As per different patterns of skin manifestations, the infants were divided into two groups -neonatal and post neonatal. After studying the individual infants' history, the relevant clinical examinations and investigations(clinically doutful cases) were carried out.Diseases were tabulated accordingly. Results: In neonatal group physiological conditions were predominant (65.3%) whereas infections were prevalent in post neonatal period (54.8%). Among the infectious conditions parasitic infections (25.3%) were most common followed by bacterial (12.2%), viral(10.2%),and fungal infections (7.1%). Sweat gland disorders (14.5%) were commonest after infections and prevalent in older age group. Seborrheic dermatitis was commonest among dermatitis and equally prevalent in both groups (10%). Conclusion: Infants are vulnerable to various types of infections (bacterial,viral,fungal).Infected family members may be source of chronicity of infections.Though various physiological conditions are very common in neonatal age group which needs proper explanation and counseling of parents. Infections and non infectious dermatitis are also prevalent which need proper treatment