Behavioral characteristics in 3-12 month-old infants with Atopic Dermatitis: A case-control study

Background and aim: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disorder that is most common in early childhood. Both immunological and psychological factors are important in AD pathogenesis and should therefore be taken into account. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral characteristics of 30 infants (3-12 month-old) with AD with 40 controls.Materials and Methods: The infants with the definite diagnosis of atopic dermatitis referring to Children Medical Center and Center for Research & Training in Skin Diseases & Leprosy were included in the study. The severity of atopic dermatitis was determined by SCORAD criteria. For assessing behavioral characteristics Infant Behavior Questionnarie (IBQ) for measuring 11 scales of behavioral characteristics was used. Questionnaires were filled by the researchers with the cooperation of the patents or the child care givers.Results: The AD group showed significantly higher scores in perceptual sensitivity, soothability and high pleasure, but not other characteristics.Conclusion: Infants with AD tend to have higher perceptual sensitivity to the environment around them and show more pleasure and excitement when subjected to an intense, rapid, novel or incogruit stimuli compared with non atopic infants.