Psoriasis in children: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Few epidemiological studies are available on childhood psoriasis. Between 2005 and 2008, information was collected about all children diagnosed with psoriasis in the Pediatric Dermatology Unit of Andreas Sygros Skin Hospital, in Athens, Greece. A total of 125 children with psoriasis were examined, the male to female ratio was 1.4:1 and the peak age of onset was in the 9- to 10-year-old age group. Only 16% of the patients had a positive family history. Plaque type psoriasis was the most prevalent type at presentation with 56.8% of the children affected, followed by scalp involvement (33.6%). The limbs were the most prevalent site of involvement (70 children, 56%), followed by the body (59 children, 47.2%) and scalp (60 children, 48%) equally affected. Most of the children had <5% of their skin affected by psoriasis (53.2%). Age of onset had no influence on the severity of the disease (P=0.107), whereas a positive correlation was found with sex and severity of the disease, with male patients being more severely affected (P=0.008). Family history did not influence the age at presentation (P=0.68). Topical steroids were used in most commonly followed by keratolytics, calcipotriol, topical tacrolimus and topical pimecrolimus. Our study reflects the patterns of presentation of childhood psoriasis in sunny countries like Greece.