Pediatric dermatoses encompass a wide array of dermatological conditions affecting children from infancy to adolescence. They range from transient physiological changes in neonates to complex genodermatoses and acquired infections. The incidence and patterns of these conditions vary greatly across different geographical and socioeconomic contexts. In developing countries like India, factors such as overcrowding, poor hygiene, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare contribute significantly to the burden of skin diseases in children [1–3].

Early diagnosis and management are critical as skin disorders can reflect underlying systemic illnesses and significantly impact the psychosocial well-being of children. Epidemiological studies have shown that the pattern of pediatric dermatoses often reflects local environmental and socioeconomic conditions [4,5]. Furthermore, skin disease in children can serve as an indicator of broader public health concerns such as sanitation and nutrition [5,6].

This study was undertaken to analyze the clinical spectrum and epidemiologic trends of pediatric dermatoses in a tertiary care hospital in South India, with a view toward identifying preventable factors and improving community-level interventions.

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Departments of Pediatrics and Dermatology of SVRR Government General Hospital, Tirupati, over a one-year period from March 2021 to March 2022. A total of 381 children aged below 12 years presenting with dermatological complaints were enrolled after obtaining informed consent from their guardians.

A structured proforma was used to collect demographic data, clinical history, physical examination findings, and relevant systemic associations. Diagnoses were made clinically, and supported with investigations wherever necessary. Data were analyzed using SPSS software v21. Descriptive statistics such as means and proportions were used. Associations between variables were tested using chi-square test with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

A total of 381 pediatric patients with dermatological complaints were evaluated. Most children were aged 6–10 years (30.4%), followed by those aged 1–5 years (28.3%). The majority were females (59.1%). Most participants belonged to the lower middle (52.2%) and upper lower (38.6%) socioeconomic classes.

The most common presenting symptom was pruritus (49.6%), followed by painful lesions (26.0%) and asymptomatic presentations (24.4%). Skin conditions associated with systemic diseases were observed in 3.7% of children. Inflammatory dermatoses were the most frequent category, followed by fungal and bacterial infections. Infestations such as scabies constituted 12.1% of the cases.

Table 1: Age-wise Distribution of Study Participants

Table 2: Distribution of Pediatric Dermatoses Types

Pediatric dermatoses constitute a significant portion of outpatient visits in dermatology and pediatrics. In our study, the majority of cases (30.4%) were in the 6–10 years age group, consistent with reports from Sugat et al. and Paudel et al. [9,10], suggesting this age is especially susceptible due to environmental exposure and school-related transmission.

Female predominance (59.1%) in our study differs from findings by Sardana et al., who observed more male cases in Delhi [6]. This may be influenced by regional differences in health-seeking behavior and access to care.

The majority of patients belonged to lower middle (52.2%) and upper lower (38.6%) socioeconomic classes, aligning with studies by Jose et al. and Kaliaperumal et al. [5,11], reinforcing the strong association between poverty and skin disease prevalence.

In terms of clinical categories, inflammatory dermatoses (29.7%) were most common, followed by fungal (17.6%) and bacterial infections (12.6%), a distribution similar to observations by Bonthu et al. and Medasani et al. [7,8]. Scabies was prevalent in 12.1% of children, reflecting regional hygiene challenges [4].

Genodermatoses accounted for 6.3% of the cases, higher than in most outpatient studies. This mirrors findings by Mavoori et al. in a referral setting [14]. Drug-induced reactions were noted in 4.2% of cases, which is higher than typical reports, likely due to the tertiary care context [12].

This study underscores that infections, infestations, and inflammatory dermatoses are the predominant dermatological presentations in children. These conditions are more common in children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and preventive measures such as hygiene promotion, nutritional support, and early intervention can significantly reduce the burden.

Early identification of genetic and systemic associations is crucial to manage long-term complications. Special emphasis should be placed on community education and improving healthcare access.

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