Pediatric dermatology consultations: a retrospective analysis of inpatient consultations referred to the dermatology service

To analyze the care provided by consultant dermatologists to hospitalized pediatric patients, we retrospectively studied the records of inpatient pediatric consultation requests received by a hospital dermatology department between 2000 and 2009. The diagnoses were recorded according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). In a high percentage of cases, the problem was addressed in a single visit, and few additional tests were ordered. The most common diagnostic groups were diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (ICD-9: 680-709). The most frequent specific diagnosis was atopic dermatitis (ICD-9: 691.8). Our series shows that the role of dermatologists as consultants for pediatric inpatients is similar to their role in outpatient consultations.