Efficacy of 2% Coal Tar in Petroleum Jelly Over Plain Petroleum Jelly (Emollient) in The Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Population

Abstract

Objective: The study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of topical 2% coal tar in petroleum jelly as
compared to plain petroleum jelly (Emollient) in the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in
children 1 to 16 years of age.
Study Design: Quasi-experimental study design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Dermatology, Capital Hospital
Islamabad, Pakistan over a period of six months, from January 2023 to July 2023.
Methods: A total of 68 patients, 34 in each group who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study.
Group- A received topical 2% coal tar in petroleum jelly while Group B was only administered plain petroleum
jelly, twice daily for 12 weeks. The response was recorded using the eczema area severity index (EASI) and then
analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.
Results: The mean age and the duration of disease in Group-A was 6.8±4.8 years & 27.9±28.0 months
respectively, while it was 4.9±3.7 years & 20.9±18.2 months in Group-B. Males were predominant in Group-B
n= 21 (61.8%), while males and females were equal in Group-A n=17 (50%). Final analysis at 12 weeks
comparing the EASI revealed that treatment of Group-A (52.9%) was more effective than Group-B (17.7%). The
difference being statistically significant (P=0.002).
Conclusion: Topical 2% coal tar in petroleum jelly was more effective than petroleum jelly alone in treating mild
to moderate AD in the pediatric population.

How to cite this: Erfan M, Ali U, Sajid W, Syed TM, Noor H. Efficacy of 2% Coal Tar in Petroleum Jelly Over Plain Petroleum Jelly (Emollient) In The Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Population. Life and Science. 2024; 5(4): 452-458. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.545