Abstract
BACKGROUND: Skin is the largest organ of the human body, and one of the most sensitive indicators of a child's general health. Skin disorders, especially among children, may cause an additional emotional and psychological stress to the patients and their family. AIM: We aim to compare the extent to which various skin diseases affect the quality of life among the pediatric age group (5-12 years) based on Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 453 patients who attended skin clinic at a regional hospital in Northern India between November 2015 and May 2017. The study consists of questions regarding dermatoses. Patients were evaluated using a standardized pro forma and a CDLQI questionnaire. The diseases with abnormal high proportions were evaluated by the control chart technique. RESULTS: Out of a total of 453 pediatric patients identified for dermatoses, the average quality of life based on the CDLQI score did not show significant variation across different seasons (P < 0.522). Although the type of skin disorders (P < 0.001) had a significant effect on the quality of life of the children. Based on the CDLQI scores, following diseases have a significant adverse effect on quality of life of the patients - miliaria, atopic dermatitis, scabies, impetigo, and pediculosis capitis. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that skin diseases, irrespective of the type, adversely impair the quality of life of the child and in turn the family, therefore, calls for an enhanced level of compassion and care.