Abstract:OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis affects children’s behavioral, emotional and psychological development. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: The quality of life in 43 children with atopic dermatitis between the age of 3-6 months was assessed by the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS). The severity of atopic dermatitis was determined by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCOARD). RESULTS: The scores of SCORAD and CADIS in children with atopic dermatitis were 56.9±11.1 and 38.0±7.9 respectively. There was a positive correlation between the CADIS and SCORAD scores (ρ=0.934, P<0.05). The CADIS score was positively correlated with the area of skin lesions (ρ=0.581, P<0.01), erythema (ρ=0.417, P<0.01), excoriations (ρ=0.579, P<0.01), edema/exanthema papulosum (ρ=0.595, P<0.01), oozing/crusts (ρ=0.436, P<0.01), skin dryness (ρ=0.343, P<0.01), pruritus and sleeplessness (ρ=0.0.344, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Atopic dermatitis adversely affects the quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis. The worse quality of life is associated with more severe atopic dermatitis.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):351-353］
