RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis is a common and increasingly prevalent disorder. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) made a major contribution to the understanding of its epidemiology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis in a representative sample of 6 to 7-year-old and 13 to 14-year-old children from the province of Granada, Spain, using validated questionnaires and to analyze potential differences between coastal and inland regions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional observational study of schoolchildren from Granada, Spain, aged between 6 and 7 years and 13 and 14 years. The main instrument was the core questionnaire module for dermatitis used in phase I of the ISAAC study. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in Granada schoolchildren aged 6 to 7 years in terms of prevalence of dermatitis at some time, typical site, resolution in the last 12 months, and diagnosis of atopic dermatis. No significant differences were observed on comparison of the prevalence of atopic dermatitis between coastal and inland populations. Finally, in the comparison of schoolchildren aged 6 to 7 years, we observed almost significant differences for dermatitis at some time, resolution in the last 12 months, and diagnosis of atopic dermatitis on considering age and geographic location of the study population. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is similar in the coastal population and the provincial capital. In terms of clinical symptoms and disease course, atopic dermatitis tends to stabilize with age.