Abstract
BACKGROUND
Prurigo nodularis in children can become chronic, lasting from several months to many years, triggered and sustained by environmental allergens. In Vietnam, prurigo nodularis is relatively common; however, few studies have been conducted on pediatric populations.
AIMS
This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and related factors of prurigo nodularis in children.
METHODS
This prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from December 2023 to June 2024. A total of 117 children participated in the study. Data were collected according to the study’s medical record template.
RESULTS
The results showed that the proportion of male patients was higher than that of female patients (62.4% vs. 37.6%), with the highest proportion of cases in the under-6 age group (47%). Most patients lived in urban areas (88%). Nearly half of the cases had disease duration of < 12 months (42.2%). The onset rate on the legs was the highest (58.2%). Some related factors were herbal baths (1.7%), food allergies (8.5%), pet keeping (22.2%), insect bites (23.1%), family history of prurigo (24.8%), long fingernails (59.8%), and self-medication (73.5%). The rate of regular deworming was 93.2% of the children. Most patients experienced severe itching (97.4%), with the severity and activity level of the disease mainly at moderate levels (96.6% and 97.4%, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Prurigo nodularis in children presents with diverse clinical characteristics. Factors such as food allergies, pet keeping, insect bites, and family history may play a role in triggering and maintaining the disease, but further research is needed.