title: Juvenile psoriasis: an epidemiological study of 69 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease that affects people of every age; prevalence in pediatric population is unknown because of the lack of studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected data about patients 0-18 years old coming to our center in the period from November 2010 to September 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 69 children (38 males, 31 females) affected by psoriasis, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.2 and a prevalence of 0.75%. Plaque psoriasis was the most common clinical manifestation (72.54%), followed by guttate psoriasis (13%). The most frequent comorbidities were overweight and obesity (26%). Most patients had a mild disease with PASI<10 (72.5%). the majority had no or limited effects on quality of life derived from psoriasis. The most frequent involved areas were the extremities (58%), followed by the scalp (45%). Eighty-four percent of children were treated with emollient agents, 50.7% with topical keratolytics, 24.6% with local steroids, vitamin D analogues or combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of young patients affected by psoriasis confirmed rare literature reports on the topic. Most children showed mild form of disease. Nearly every child with mild psoriasis treated with topical therapy obtained good results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University Clinic of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arese
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University Clinic of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University Clinic of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ibba
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University Clinic of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panzone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University Clinic of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy - ornella.cervetti@unito.it.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cervetti
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004643:Emollients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004643:Emollients; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D013256:Steroids; D014807:Vitamin D