Quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis and healthy infants: a follow-up from birth to 24 months.

AIM: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) in infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) by comparison with healthy infants to find treatment modalities contributing most to QOL in these patients.

METHODS

The population (N=134) was recruited in the context of an on-going prospective mother-infant study. QOL was measured using the Infant Dermatitis Quality of Life Index for the infants with AD and a modification of this for the healthy infants.

RESULTS

The index scores of infants with AD were 4.15 (SD 2.96), 3.89 (SD 3.62) and 3.23 (SD 2.71) at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively, the QOL being significantly poorer at 6 (p<0.001) and 12 (p=0.01) months compared to healthy infants. The principal impairments were itching, scratching and sleep disturbances at 6 and 12 months and treatment difficulties at 6 months. Problems with getting to sleep were reported at all stages irrespective of AD.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple treatment regimens targeting itching in particular are likely to contribute most to the QOL of infants with AD; however, sleeping problems may remain as an age-related phenomenon. Early detection of symptoms and effective parent guidance contributed to the well-being of the child.