Authors:
Bowen AC, Mahé A, Hay RJ, Andrews RM, Steer AC, Tong SYC, Carapetis JR
Authors notes:
PLoS ONE. 2015;10(8):e0136789
Keywords:
Impetigo, skin infections, pyoderma, systematic review
Abstract:
We conducted a comprehensive, systematic review of the global childhood population prevalence of impetigo and the broader condition pyoderma.
Sixty-six articles relating to 89 studies met our inclusion criteria.
Based on population surveillance, 82 studies included data on 145,028 children assessed for pyoderma or impetigo.
Median childhood prevalence was 12-3%.
Fifty-eight (65%) studies were from low or low-middle income countries, where median childhood prevalences were 8-4% and 14-5%, respectively.
However, the highest burden was seen in underprivileged children from marginalised communities of high-income countries; median prevalence 19-4%.
Based on data from studies published since 2000 from low and low-middle income countries, we estimate the global population of children suffering from impetigo at any one time to be in excess of 162 million, predominantly in tropical, resource-poor contexts.
Impetigo is an under-recognised disease and in conjunction with scabies, comprises a major childhood dermatological condition with potential lifelong consequences if untreated.