BACKGROUND: Atopic eczema has become more common during recent decades, but few studies have looked at its prevalence in the general community. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to ascertain the prevalence of atopic eczema, its age of onset, and its relationship to breast-feeding and ear piercing in a general practice population. METHODS: Children (N = 1104), aged 3 to 11 years, were identified from a computerized register in a socially and ethnically mixed English general practice population of 13,314. Of these, 1077 children (97.6% recruitment) were interviewed with parents or guardians, and the resultant data were recorded on a survey form. RESULTS: The lifetime occurrence of atopic eczema was 20% in boys (12% in the past year) and 19% in girls (11% in the past year). Prevalence in the past year was 10% to 14% in boys aged 3 to 11 years but fell in girls from 15% at 3 to 5 years to 8% at 9 to 11 years. Atopic eczema developed in the first 12 months of life in 60% of the children who had the condition, and it developed in the first 6 months of life in three quarters of these children. Ear piercing had been performed in 35% of girls and 3% of boys and was most prevalent in social classes 3, 4, and 5. More than half the girls aged 9 to 11 years had pierced ears. Breast-feeding did not affect the prevalence of atopic eczema. CONCLUSION: The lifetime prevalence of atopic eczema was 20% in children aged 3 to 11 years. There was no evidence that ear piercing perpetuated eczema in this age group. Breast-feeding did not protect against the development of atopic eczema.
BACKGROUND:Atopic eczema has become more common during recent decades, but few studies have looked at its prevalence in the general community. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to ascertain the prevalence of atopic eczema, its age of onset, and its relationship to breast-feeding and ear piercing in a general practice population. METHODS:Children (N = 1104), aged 3 to 11 years, were identified from a computerized register in a socially and ethnically mixed English general practice population of 13,314. Of these, 1077 children (97.6% recruitment) were interviewed with parents or guardians, and the resultant data were recorded on a survey form. RESULTS: The lifetime occurrence of atopic eczema was 20% in boys (12% in the past year) and 19% in girls (11% in the past year). Prevalence in the past year was 10% to 14% in boys aged 3 to 11 years but fell in girls from 15% at 3 to 5 years to 8% at 9 to 11 years. Atopic eczema developed in the first 12 months of life in 60% of the children who had the condition, and it developed in the first 6 months of life in three quarters of these children. Ear piercing had been performed in 35% of girls and 3% of boys and was most prevalent in social classes 3, 4, and 5. More than half the girls aged 9 to 11 years had pierced ears. Breast-feeding did not affect the prevalence of atopic eczema. CONCLUSION: The lifetime prevalence of atopic eczema was 20% in children aged 3 to 11 years. There was no evidence that ear piercing perpetuated eczema in this age group. Breast-feeding did not protect against the development of atopic eczema.
Authors: Danny Camfferman; J Declan Kennedy; Michael Gold; A James Martin; Peter Winwood; Kurt Lushington Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2010-12-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Lawrence F Eichenfield; Wynnis L Tom; Sarah L Chamlin; Steven R Feldman; Jon M Hanifin; Eric L Simpson; Timothy G Berger; James N Bergman; David E Cohen; Kevin D Cooper; Kelly M Cordoro; Dawn M Davis; Alfons Krol; David J Margolis; Amy S Paller; Kathryn Schwarzenberger; Robert A Silverman; Hywel C Williams; Craig A Elmets; Julie Block; Christopher G Harrod; Wendy Smith Begolka; Robert Sidbury Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2013-11-27 Impact factor: 11.527