Scoring atopic dermatitis in infants and young children: distinctive features of the SCORAD index

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects infants, children, and adults with a wide degree of severity; several scoring systems have been used in trials and clinical practice. Infants and young children have a typical distribution of the lesions, but a correlation among skin surface involvement, intensity and subjective symptoms has not been reported in age groups. Aims of the study: To evaluate the clinical features of AD in infants and young children, by using the SCORAD index. A simplified scoring method for clinical practice is also discussed. Methods: The SCORAD index was assessed in 63 infants and young children with AD [mean age (±SD) 17.5 ± 11.15 months]; the single parameters of the index were evaluated, and compared with each other. Serum eosinophil cationic protein (s‐ECP) and urinary eosinophil protein X (u‐EPX) levels were determined and correlated with the SCORAD index. Results: The presence of erythema, edema/papulation, and oozing/crust was significantly high in these patients. A strong positive correlation resulted among the three SCORAD index parameters (extent‐intensity: P