Prevalence of Eczema in Early Infancy and the Prenatal Risk Factors and Knowledge Assessment among Parents in Saudi Arabia

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and other endogenous dermatitis, as well as exogenous dermatitis like allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, are all included under the umbrella term "eczema," which is used by non-dermatologists and the general public to refer to a variety of dermatitis conditions. Apart from AD, eczema also includes contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, all of which present as itching and erythema and can be identified by their etiologies, morphologies, or distribution patterns [1]. Because atopic dermatitis (AD) is becoming more common and manifests in most countries and because there is evidence that AD can progress to other atopic phenotypes, AD has become a global public health concern [2].

Among diverse environmental factors, mold exposure during early life is a potential risk factor for developing allergic diseases, including AD, although studies are inconclusive. The inconsistent results might be attributable at least in part to differences in the timing of mold exposure. Like bacterial exposure, mold exposure, particularly during critical periods of gestation, may play a role in shaping the immune system, thereby affecting the development of AD [3]. Several worldwide investigations demonstrate that prevalence rates in developed nations vary widely, from 10% to 30% and that regional variations in rates are significant [4].

It's still unknown what causes eczema in the first place. Even while genetics is acknowledged as a primary cause of eczema, it cannot account for the notable rise in the prevalence of eczema that has been seen in recent years [5]. It is thought that a mix of genetic, environmental, dietary and lifestyle variables are to blame for this increase, while the precise explanation is unknown [6].

The impact of eczema on morbidity, quality of life and medical expenses is widely acknowledged. Moreover, systemic comorbidities and significant psychosocial distress are linked to severe cases of eczema [7].

Recent research has been conducted on Atopic dermatitis manifests itself throughout the first five years of life in 85% of cases, often starting as early as two or three months of age 2. About 10% of newborns in Germany have an illness, 15% of them seriously [8]. In 2023, Tianjin, China is a significant predictor for the early onset of AD in infants. In addition, the primary factors of early AD manifestation during pregnancy are maternal contact with industrial chemicals, maternal exposure to antibiotics and maternal passive smoking. In conclusion, early manifestations of AD are significantly influenced by both hereditary and environmental variables [9].

In Indonesia 2022, the Paediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine showed, that the prevalence of Atopic dermatitis was 23.67%, which impacted 65% of children under the age of 18 months, thirteen babies with mild AD and seventeen with intermediate AD were included in this study. About 18 (50%) and 9 (25%) of the individuals had vitamin D inadequacy, respectively. This study demonstrated that deficiencies in vitamin D were associated with the severity of AD and that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were more prevalent in newborns with AD [10].

Despite prior research on eczema in Saudi Arabian children and adolescents. There are still gaps in our knowledge of the linked prenatal risk factors and their prevalence in early infancy. By supplying information on the prevalence of eczema in early infancy, identifying prenatal risk factors and evaluating parental understanding, this study fills in these gaps. Comprehending these variables is essential for timely intervention, preventive measures and enhancing the management results and well-being of impacted newborns.

Objective

The study set out to determine the Prevalence of eczema among infants in Saudi Arabia, assess the prenatal risk factors in Saudi Arabia and assess the Knowledge of eczema among Parents.

Study Design

This cross-sectional study conducted between July 2024 July 2025 adopted the convenience sampling method to collect data from parents across different regions in Saudi Arabia, this study evaluates the Prevalence of eczema among infants, prenatal risk factors and Knowledge of eczema among Parents in Saudi Arabia.

Study Setting: Participants, Recruitment and Sampling Procedure

Parents in Saudi Arabia represented the study population and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) was used in a sample recruitment technique.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Qualifications for inclusion early childhood parents of both sexes, those whose ages range from birth to one year, parents who are not Saudi Arabian citizens and those whose ages exceed one year are excluded.

Sample Size

The Raosoft online sample size calculator (http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html) was used to determine the sample size. The applied formula is n = (1.96)^2 * 0.50/(0.05)^2, with a predetermined error tolerance of 5% and a confidence level of 95%. This formula was used to determine the sample size, which came out to be 384.

Method for Data Collection and Instrument (Data Collection Technique and Tools)

Structured questionnaire was used as a study tool. This tool was used in a relevant study conducted in Saudi Arabia [11,12,13]. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 45 with 3 sections. Section 1, includes demographic features such as gender, residential area, educational level and income. Section 2, participants were asked about prevalence and risk factors when the child was diagnosed and at what age and also asked about her pregnancy if she was exposed to some conditions such as pressure or diabetes, etc. and about breastfeeding in general, whether breastfeeding was natural or not and also her family’s history. Section 3 asked participants about their awareness and knowledge of eczema treatment, how to avoid or prevent eczema and whether they were aware that breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing eczema and asked if there is a link between the introduction of weaning food and eczema.

Scoring System

The total number of statements used to assess the level of knowledge was 13. Demographics: 7 statements; knowledge: 6. for accurate responses, one point is given; for wrong replies, zero points are given. We used Likert scales (Dichotomous, Three-Point and Quality Scales) for scoring. Ten was the maximum score, which was split as follows: The first cut-off marks for Bloom's analysis were 80.0-100.0%, 60.0-79% and 59.0%. Based on their ratings, the participants was split up into three groups.

A knowledge score could range from 0 to 9 points and it was divided into three levels: low knowledge was defined as having a score of 5 or less, moderate knowledge as having a score between 6 and 7 and high knowledge as having a score of 8 to 9.

Pilot Test

Twenty individuals were given the questionnaire and asked to fill it out. This was carried out to assess the study's viability and the usefulness of the questionnaire. The results of the pilot study were not included in the final analysis of the investigation.

Analyzes and Entry Method

The data was entered into the device using "Microsoft Office Excel Software" for Windows (2021). The acquired data was then transferred to the Statistical Package for Social Science Software (SPSS) tool, version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Microsoft Windows, Version 21.0) for statistical analysis.

Table 1 displays various demographic parameters of the participants with a total number of (415). Participants’ mean age is 36.1 years; age distribution is not uniform across categories, with a preponderance of people aged 36 to 45 years (31.8%). Notable majority of respondents (71.6%), i.e. mothers, reflect the role of the primary caregiver in the context analyzed. The children surveyed are not distributed across genders very unevenly (though slightly) and there seem to be a bit more females than males with a gender distribution around 50.4%. The participants are located in Saudi Arabia such that all be living in geographical space. An overwhelming majority of respondents 65.5 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. It also shows a broad economic range, as more than 20.7 percent earned more than 15,000 SAR per month.

As shown in Figure 1, this figure returns the age of the first diagnosis of eczema of a sample of 191 children out of total 415 participants, whose data they serve to illustrate the prevalence of this disease at different stages of development. Notable was the large cohort of 62 children, or roughly 32.4% of the sample and these were diagnosed before their first birthday. This is particularly important in thinking about early intervention possible. Next, 29 children (about 15.2%) were diagnosed at one year and 31 children (about 16.2%) at two years. 13 children (6.8%) received their diagnosis at four years and 30 children (15.7%) were diagnosed at five years.

Table 2 presents the data on prevalence and risk factors for eczema among a sample of 415 children, giving a view of clinical diagnosis and what may be potentially maternal risk. Of interest, almost 54% of the respondents reported that their children had not been diagnosed previously with eczema, implying a need for improved awareness and early care in pediatric dermatology. A large proportion of those diagnosed initially received their initial diagnosis within the first year of life (32.5%) indicating an imperative time for identification and treatment of this condition. Eczema may occur at variable sites, the arms (53.9%) and face (40.8%) being exceptionally common, suggesting a potential environmental or genetic factor. Other possible contributing factors to a child's chances of having eczema include a history of psychological issues during pregnancy (41.4%) and a wide range of medical conditions like gestational diabetes and heart disease (5.8%). Additionally, the data confirms the preponderance of eczema related to family history (28.3%) and suggests a genetic predisposition.

Table 1: Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants (n = 415)

Table 2: Parameters Related to Prevalence and Risk Factors Regarding Eczema (n = 415)

*Results may overlap

Figure 1: Illustrates Age of First Diagnosis with Eczema among Participants (n = 191)

Figure 2: Illustrates Awareness of Treatment Options for Eczema among Participants

As shown in Figure 2, this data presented provides a many understating of eczema treatment options among the 415-respondent sample. In particular, aware of treatment options among 325 respondents or 78.3 percent of our sample as a whole. Ninety respondents, or roughly 21.7 percent, said they were not familiar with such choices.

Table 3 presents data on the prevalence, history and family history of eczema among 191 participants. In particular, a large proportion of respondents (30.9%) stated having a family member with other allergic disease or eczema that they have a sibling. This may indicate a genetic predisposition in families. We found only 11.0% of participants had had pets present during pregnancy or in the first year of the child's life, suggesting less exposure to environmental allergens during early life. A large proportion of children (77.0%) were breastfed and a substantial number were introduced to solids at six months (55.4%), consistent with current dietary recommendations. What is interesting, however, in that frequency of eczema flare ups differed, with parents of 34.0% indicating frequent flare ups and therefore this being a chronic disease. In addition, the effectiveness of treatment was variable, as 43.5 percent responded that treatment was somewhat effective. What the data also shows is that nearly half the participants did alter their diet, demonstrating an interest in the condition.

Table 3: Prevalence, History and Family History of Eczema (n = 191)

Table 4: Participants’ Knowledge and Awareness of Eczema (n = 415)

*Results may overlap

Table 4 presents data that is critical, providing a window into what the participants knew and understood about an eczema, a common form of dermatological condition. This finding, with a sample size of 415 individuals, shows that the majority, 78.3% know about treatment options for eczema. Nevertheless, a substantial number, 21.7%, is unaware. Among knowledgeable treatment providers, emollients were mentioned at a significant 72.0% as a leading treatment strategy. Secondly, this also shows that there is space for further education regarding less commonly used treatments.

Table 5: Shows Knowledge and Awareness about Eczema Score Results

Table 6: Relation between Knowledge and Awareness about Eczema and Sociodemographic Characteristics

*p value was considered significant if ≤0.05

More than half (55.9%) of participants know about preventive measures but about half (44.1%) fail to do so, revealing the gaps in education that could be closed to improve eczema management. The results also show surprisingly high levels of positive perception about breastfeeding, with only 6.5 percent of respondents does not believe that breastfeeding might reduce the likelihood of developing eczema in children and almost half of respondents do not know whether environmental factors contribute to eczema risk.

Table 5 presented data provides a clear picture of the knowledge and eczema awareness have as practiced among the surveyed population. The high results show that a large percentage, or 61.4%, have insignificant knowledge on eczema, while 6.7% has high understanding of the disease. Furthermore, 31.8 percent of respondents are moderate knowledge.

Table 6 shows that knowledge and awareness about eczema has statistically significant relation to residential region (p value = 0.012) and if the participant’s child been diagnosed with eczema (p value = 0.002). It also shows statistically insignificant relation to age, relation to the child, educational level, monthly income and child’s gender.

Dermatitis on the other hand is a generic term that includes multiple diseases like atopic dermatitis, allergic and contact irritant dermatitis and all belong to the eczema umbrella encompassing them. Exposure to "eczema" is common for AD: non-dermatologists and the general public often equate all forms of the condition with AD. Eczema is not only AD but also includes conditions such as contact dermatitis, nummular eczema and seborrheic dermatitis, which are characterised by pruritus and erythema, with various etiologies, morphologies or distribution patterns [14]. In this study, we wished to determine the prevalence of eczema among infants in Saudi Arabia, the prenatal risk factors in Saudi Arabia and to assess the Knowledge of eczema among parents. Our work on prevalence of eczema among children in Saudi Arabia reveals risk factors, management strategies as well as prevalence of comorbidities. We engaged with 415 parents who told us that, on average, half (54%) had previously not had a diagnosis of eczema for their child. This is a massive gap in awareness that really highlights how important it is and how important [it is] for us to educate the parents about what the early stages are and what the options are in treatment for eczema. The assignment of this finding to these concerns mirrors that of the Alshammrie et al. [1], who noted lack of diagnosis in kids with eczema, highlighting the urgent need for educational programs to inform parents around a very common skin condition. We also determined in our study that 32.5% of children were first diagnosed with eczema in the first year of life with the most common sites involved being the arms (53.9%) and face (40.8%). This is indeed consistent with recent reports [15,16], which have observed that eczema often occurs in the flexural area, in particular in infants. However, they say that recognizing these signs early is important because early intervention can help limit how badly the condition progresses. Our finding is also in agreement with the findings of Shi et al. [16], who reported that a considerable number of children present with symptoms prior to a formal diagnosis and that clinicians and parents should maintain a high level of alertness. We found several interesting risk factors for eczema. The findings found that 41.4% of parents report the experience of psychological stress during pregnancy and this is in a good agreement with findings of Williams et al. [17], which found that maternal stress on a significant level increases the chance of an offspring to develop atopic conditions such as eczema. Additionally, we established that 28.3% of participants had a family history of eczema, showing a genetic predisposition to eczema. This observation is confirmed by findings presented by Alhazmi et al. [18] showing a greater prevalence of atopic dermatitis in students from environments with varying environmental exposures, implying that both genetic factors and environmental contexts have particularly important influences on overall eczema incidence. Another important theme in our study is the environmental factors in relation to eczema management. A surprising association was found between eczema risk and having household pets. Our results support the literature that asserts that pet exposure can increase the risk for developing atopic diseases, especially in genetically susceptible children [16,19]. This relationship highlights the need for parents to be informed about potential environmental triggers and emphasizes the multifaceted approach required in managing eczema effectively. Dietary practices emerged as another critical consideration in our findings. While 77% of parents reported breastfeeding, the timing for introducing solid foods varied among participants. Some introduced solids earlier than the recommended six months. This complexity mirrors previous studies that consider the nuanced relationship between breastfeeding and eczema risk. For instance, while breastfeeding is typically advocated for its numerous health benefits, systematic reviews have shown that it may not consistently reduce the incidence of eczema and could potentially be associated with an increased risk under certain circumstances, particularly among those with existing genetic predispositions [20]. This suggests the necessity for tailored dietary guidance for parents, especially those with a family history of allergic conditions. The other most significant finding is that children with eczema were more likely to have comorbidities. In our study, we reported marked overlap between allergic rhinitis and asthma in this population. The observation is consistent with that of Ricci et al. [15] who observed that children with a diagnosis of eczema tend to have high rates of comorbid allergic diseases. The findings like this point to the need for comprehensive management strategies targeting not only eczema but an entire spectrum of allergic diseases and ‘one size fits all’ type of care. Our findings also highlight another, important dimension of eczema prevalence: geographical variations in prevalence. Overall, we found a high degree of regional variation, consistent with early studies, such as Alhazmi et al. [18] However, these studies reported differing prevalences rates of atopic dermatitis in differing environmental contexts, indicating that local climate and lifestyle may interact differently to significantly affect the prevalences and manifestations of eczema in different populations. Knowing such regional factors is key to develop appropriate management strategies. In our study assessment of treatment effectiveness we found that only 43.5% of parents perceived that their child’s treatments were somewhat effective. This finding adds to previous research [21] that shows many parents recognize the need to use emollient, but don’t adequately understand how to use them, which sometimes causes poor control of eczema symptoms. The lack of this knowledge underscores the imperative of targeted educational intervention to prepare parents and caregivers with the skills to do management of eczema as well as use of treatment options in order to minimize reliance on potentially harmful topical corticosteroids.

This study identified a high prevalence of eczema in Saudi infants and highlighted the influence of maternal psychological stress and family history as prenatal risk factors. Strengthening parental education and early screening strategies is essential to reduce disease burden and improve infant well-being.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge all of the volunteers who provided samples for this research.

Conflicts of Interest

This study was not supported by any outside sources.

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was acquired from each individual study participant.

Materials Availability

All data associated with this study are present in the paper.

This study was not supported by any outside sources.

Ethical Statement

His study was reviewed and approved by Ministry of Health (Approval No. A02320) All procedures performed in this research involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.

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