earticle

영어

Purpose: Despite the high incidence, the incidence of atopic dermatitis among adolescents has been continuously increasing. The study was conducted to examine the severity of atopic dermatitis among middle school students and to identify the factors affecting the severity. Methods: The data used in the analysis are from 2015 Youth Health Behavior Online Survey. Complex sample analysis was conducted to analyze the severity of atopic dermatitis which was defined by the treatment experience of atopic dermatitis and the number of absent days due to the disease as its criteria. Binary logistic regression of the factors affecting the severity of atopic dermatitis by gender was done. Results: The severity of atopic dermatitis was high in male students who were in a lower grade (freshmen), who smoked, or who consumed soft drinks at least once a week, while in female students who were in a lower grade (freshmen, sophomore), who consumed alcohol, who consumed highly caffeinated drinks at least once a week or who consumed sweet drinks at least once a week. The severity of atopic dermatitis was lower in female students who lived in big cities or medium/small sized cities or engaged in physical activities less than three times a week. Conclusion: For atopic dermatitis among middle school students, the importance of dietary management should be considered. This indicates that families, schools, and communities have their own responsibilities and efforts to relieve the symptoms of the atopic dermatitis.