title: Chilblains in Turkey: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chilblains are rather common in winter months in our country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determination of demographical and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with chilblains in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) as risk factor for development of chilblains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine patients who were diagnosed as chilblains at our outpatient clinics were included in this study. No exclusion criteria were sought. Demographical data including height and weight and answers to questions related to personal history were recorded. A control group consisting of 108 controls were chosen from among patients presenting with complaints of hair loss. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 69 patients with chilblains, 45 (65.2%) were females and 24 (34.8%) were males. Mean age (± SD) of the patients was 21 ± 9. 71.2% of the patients complained of itching, 51.6% of pain, 31.3% of burning in the lesions. 61.3% of the patients reported recurrence of the lesions every winter season. Mean BMI of the patients was 20.5 ± 2.9. Mean BMI of the controls was 22.4 ± 3.7 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low BMI may be a risk factor contributing to development of chilblains in persons exposed to cold weather conditions. Apart from external factors, there seems to be a personal tendency to develop lesions, as many patients report recurrences every year. Diagnosis of chilblains requires wariness, as history of cold exposure may not be evident.
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Diyarbakir, Turkey, Assist. Prof. Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology - Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Z Meltem
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Akkurt
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Diyarbakir, Turkey, Assist. Prof. Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology - Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ucmak
authors.affiliation: Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey, MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey, MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Safiye Kutlu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yürüker
authors.affiliation: Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey, MD - Specialist in Dermatology - Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital - Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Heybet Özkaya
authors.initials: HÖ
authors.lastname: Celik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002647:Chilblains / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult