Epidemic clinical profil of skin cancer in southern Tunisia

Skin cancer [SK] frequency is increasing all over the world. We report a clinical and epidemiological study of SK in the south of Tunisia through a 1476 cases series. On the basis of a retrospective study, we report the clinical and epidemiological data collected from files of patients with skin cancers seen during a 24-year-period [1979-2002]. Our series was composed of 1476 patients, with an incidence of 61.5 cases/year. The mean age was 55 years. Epithelial skin carcinomas were the most common [1288 cases, 87.3%]. Basal cell carcinomas were found in 890 patients [69%] and squamous cell carcinomas in 398 [31%]. The mean age was 60 years. The phototype III was the most common [52.8%] among these patients. Skin melanomas were found in 71 cases [4.8%]. The mean age was 54 years with a female predominance [60.6%]. Kaposi sarcoma was found in 4.5% of patients. The mean age was 64.3% and a male predominance was found [80% of cases]. Two patients with Kaposi sarcoma [3.3%] were HIV positive. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans was reported in 2% of patients and skin lymphoma in 1.7%.The mean age is relatively low in our series. The increase in the incidence of skin cancers is probably related to the climatic conditions, the ageing of the population and to the changes in the social, economic and cultural aspects in the country. The male predominance is changing toward an equal distribution between both sexes probably in relation to the present similarity in the life style and work conditions

Sexual disturbances secondary definitive colostomy

Sexual disturbances after colostomy are various. However, they probably remain underestimated in societies where sexuality is still a taboo issue. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the possible sexual behaviour and the post operative sexual disturbances in patients whome underwent colostomy. The group was devided in 10 male and 11 female patients. Seventeen patients [81%] were married, 3 widowed and 1 unmaried. Sexual disturbances were found in 47% of patients. There was a lack of interest in sexual relations in 2 women, a resolved premature ejaculation in one case, post operative dysparenia in 2 female patients, a retrograde ejaculation in a 60-year-old man, impotence in a 46 years old patient, and a premature ejaculation in a 36-year-old man. The frequency of sexual disturbances [47%] in our series was close to that reported in the literature [50%]. The sexual disorders are more common in male patients, the most frequent being ejaculatory dysfunction. In women, dyspareunia is the most common disorder. The particular case of colostomy in homosexuals remains a current issue

[Epidemiologic, clinic and allergologic profile of atopic dermatitis in south Tunisia]

Atopic dermatitis [AD] is the collection of the cutaneous inflammatory manifestations which are chronic or repetitive associated with the other atopic diseases. The prevalence of the AD varies from one country to another. The aims of this work is to study the allergolicol, clinical and epidemiological profile of the AD in the south of Tunisia. our study is prospective about 100 cases reported in a period of 18 months. The diagnostis was carried on the criteria of Hanifin and Radjka. For every patient we studied the biographical data and the clinical manifestations of AD. Allergoloigical explorations [pricks-tests] were carried out. the overage of the patients was 104 months with extremes of 5 moths and 43 years. 65% of our patients were men. At the beginning the average was 61 months with extremes of 2 months and 37 years. 55 patients had antecedents of family allergy and 34 had antecedents of personal allergy. The former preceded the AD in. 28 cases. We didn't note any significant relation between the existence of familial allergy and the severity of the AD. In the statement, the principal factor was the contact with the house dust [33 cases], the duration of maternal breastfeeding [average 13.7 months] didn't influence neither the SCORAD, nor the beginning age of the AD. The date of beginning of food diversity [overage 6.16 months] didn't significantly influence the severity of the illness. The clinical aspect was a sharp eczema in 71% of the cases according. To the SCORAD score. The AD was judged to be weak in 5 cases, moderate in 68 cases and severe in 27 cases. The number of rise per year varied from one rise [75 cases], to more then 6 rises per year [6 cases]. The evolution was chronic in 6 cases. The pricks test showed to be positive for the accariens in the group of aeroallergen in 9 cases among the 35 cases tested, and positive for the whole egg in the group of trophallergen in 5 cases among the 13 cases tested