3072 Nutritional Evaluation of Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Poster Hall (Cancún Center)

Xiomara Lopez Campos, MD , Allergy Society from Cuba, Havana, Cuba

Raúl Lázaro Castro Almarales, MD , Allergen Department, National Center fo Biopruducts, WAO Member, Cuban Society of Allergy Member, Cuban Society of Immunology Member, Mayabeque, Cuba

Juliette Massip, MD , Bioestatistics Society from Cuba, Havana, Cuba

Background: There are many triggers of the atopic dermatitis (AD), among them there are foods. On the influence of diet on AD there are many conflicting research results. No much or anything is known about the nutritional status of patients suffering AD.  To characterize the nutritional status of the pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis in Habana Vieja attending Allergy clinics. 

Methods: It was carried out a descriptive cross sectional study where were studied 60 children between 2 and 14 years who consecutively attended the allergy clinics of Habana and DA was diagnosed from January to April of the 2008. For each patient there were evaluated anthropometrics, biochemical and immunological as well as consumption frequency and food groups.

Results: 83.3% were under 6 years, with a slight prevalence of female sex (53.3%). There are 97.7% of patients with normal height for their age and 48.3% with a normal weight for the height. 20% were malnourished. The mild and moderate anemia was detected in 63.3%. Breakfast daily frequency is performed in a 55%, 100% lunch and food by 95%. Habitual consumer products are sugars, sweet and soft drinks in 76.6%, the rare fish and shellfish by 16.6%.

Conclusions: The evaluation of nutritional status of the studied patients there was prevalence of acute malnutrition linked to poor eating habits. Children with atopic dermatitis studied who took breastfeeding studied had less effect on nutritional status.