A retrospective study to describe the clinical pattern of dermatologic lesions from the pediatric emergency department: our experience from a tertiary care hospital in Turkey

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives

Dermatologic lesions that occur primarily or are secondary to disease are among the most common reasons for referral to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). This study aims to reveal the clinical features, diagnostic distribution, and management of patients who presented to the PED with dermatologic lesions

Methods

The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving children aged 0–18 years who presented to Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, PED, in 2018 with dermatologic lesions. The SPSS−20 program was used for data analysis.

Results

A total of 1590 patients, 57.8% (919) male, were included in the study. The median age was 75 (minimum: 4 days; maximum: 17 years, 11 months) months. The frequency of dermatologic lesions was 4.33% (433/10,000). Allergic and infectious dermatologic lesions, which are the two most common skin lesions in all age groups, were seen in 46.2% (735) and 30.5% (485) (patients, respectively. Urticaria (n = 588, 37%) was the most common in allergic rashes, and viral rashes (n = 162, 10.2%) were the most common in infectious rashes. Ninety-four percent (1495) of the patients were discharged from the PED. Two patients were hospitalized and followed up as dermatologic emergencies.

Conclusion

Urticaria and viral eruptions are common dermatologic lesions in our PED. Both conditions are easily recognized and treated by physicians. Most lesions do not require hospitalization. Dermatologic emergencies, although rare, should be well-known to physicians.

KEYWORDS:

• Child
• dermatologic lesions
• emergency
• emergency department
• pediatric

Declaration of funding

This paper was not funded.

Author Contributions

Design: Özlem Çolak, Okşan Derinöz Güleryüz, Yasemin Men Atmaca. Acquisition: Burcu Şenkalfa, Songül Tomar Güneysu. Analysis: Ayla Akca Çağlar. İnterpretation: Özlem Çolak, Okşan Derinöz Güleryüz. Reviewing: Özlem Çolak, Okşan Derinöz Güleryüz. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.