Sarcouncil Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis is the main form of eczema in childhood and is a frequent reason for consultation. This study largely contributes to the epidemiology and clinical presentation, as well as assessment and management of atopic dermatitis for 97 children patients. A cross-sectional study was performed to children who were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and treated at Baghdad, Iraq hospitals, where it's followed them during the period from April 2024 to April 2025. The universe was made up of the 97 children patients who came to the dermatology inpatient clinic with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis at Baghdad, Iraq hospitals, where all children were examined into an inpatient medical history and a complete physical examination. Also, the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to assess the degree, intensity, and severity of atopic eczema. Furthermore, we assessed the severity of subjective symptoms in correlation with quality of life. Based on clinical outcomes enrolled in Baghdad - Iraq hospitals, this study showed that the greatest rate of patients were in the age group between (2 – 8) years with 65.98%. Also, this study noted that both personal and family pathological histories of atopy presented a strong association with atopic dermatitis, where it had allergic rhinitis (60.82%), asthma (37.11%), where a high prevalence of atopic dermatitis into children, within moderate severity in 56.70%. A total of 96.91% of the patients underwent to topical corticosteroids as treatment, while oral antihistamines were indicated in 88.66%. Our results presented that these treatments had improved of psychological and physical status at children during 12-month follow - up, where recorded SCORAD index scores (20.6 ± 7.2), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) Scores (6.4 ± 3.7), and Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores had 4.4 ± 2.8. The current study indicates that itching and sleep disturbances are the most common symptoms, impairing patients' psychological well-being. It also strongly suggests that the treatments used significantly improved stress, anxiety, and physical symptoms in more than 70% of patients with atopic dermatitis.