title: A survey of childhood psoriasis in Kuwait.
abstract: One hundred ninety cases of childhood (age birth-12 yrs) psoriasis constituted 0.3% of the total of new dermatologic outpatients. Girls outnumbered boys by a ratio of 1.5:1. Plaque psoriasis was the commonest clinical variant (84%), followed by guttate psoriasis. The scalp was the most common site of onset (22%). Sites predominantly affected later were the extensor surfaces of the legs and the scalp (63% and 53%, respectively). A majority of the children had a milder form of disease. Nail involvement was seen in 36%, with pitting the most common feature (87%). Seven percent had mucosal involvement. A positive family history of psoriasis was obtained in 28%. Topical therapy (coal tar, anthralin, steroids) was the main treatment in the majority of patients (92%). Sixteen patients (8%) required more aggressive intervention (ultraviolet B, psoralin-UVA, retinoids). This is the first study of this kind from the Middle East, the findings are compared with those reported from other parts of the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: al-Fouzan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017678:Sex Distribution