Sensitizing agents found in children and adolescents with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis: a cross-sectional study with a pediatric battery

Abstract Background Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disease in childhood and has an important impact on quality of life, especially severe cases or those that are recalcitrant to treatments. Sensitization to allergens with the potential for allergic contact dermatitis is a factor associated with cases of recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. Understanding the relationship between atopic dermatitis, allergens, and allergic contact dermatitis is essential. In Brazil, there are no studies on sensitization to allergens found in patch tests with pediatric batteries in patients with atopic dermatitis. Objectives To verify the main sensitizing agents, the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis and the epidemiological and clinical profile of children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis. Methods Cross-sectional, prospective study in patients between 4 and 18 years of age, with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis, treated at the Sanitary Dermatology Outpatient Clinic (RS). All patients underwent patch tests with a battery of pediatric allergens. Results The prevalence of sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis in the evaluated patients was 37.07% (20/54) and 27.7% (15/54), respectively. The most frequent allergens were: nickel sulfate (16.7%), disperse blue (5.6%), and fragrance mix I (5.6%). Nickel was associated with the female sex (p = 0.019). Study limitations Sample size and selection, absence of a control group. Conclusions A proportion of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis may be sensitized to different allergens and may even have developed allergic contact dermatitis. Recognizing this context is important in the prevention strategy and management of the disease.

Dermatite atópica em crianças e adolescentes durante a pandemia COVID-19: piora clínica associada ao medo de infecção / Atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: disease exacerbation associated with fear of infection

Introdução: A dermatite atópica é uma doença crônica e recidivante, influenciada por fatores ambientais, que necessita prescrições médicas frequentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar se crianças e adolescentes com dermatite atópica atendidos em um serviço público tiveram agravamento das lesões ou dificuldades no autocuidado durante a pandemia COVID-19.Métodos: Estudo longitudinal retrospectivo. Os dados foram coletados do prontuário de pacientes com dermatite atópica menores de 18 anos atendidos em um ambulatório público de referência do Rio Grande do Sul. A percepção sobre o agravamento das lesões foi avaliada pelos testes Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher e regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para estimar o risco de agravamento das lesões conforme o medo da COVID-19.Resultados: Foram avaliados 33 pacientes, sendo 70% do sexo feminino e 57,6% residentes na capital. A média de idade foi de 9,6 ± 3,9 anos e o tempo médio de acompanhamento pelo serviço 4,6 ± 2,9 anos. A percepção de agravamento das lesões durante o período de suspensão dos atendimentos esteve presente em 81,8% das crianças/adolescentes. As crianças relataram com frequência o aumento de coceira (78,3%) e descamação (60,9%), enquanto os adolescentes referiram maior aumento da vermelhidão (60%). O medo de contrair o vírus foi associado a um risco oito vezes maior de apresentar agravamento das lesões.Conclusões: O alto percentual de crianças/adolescentes com agravamento das lesões e a associação da piora da doença com o medo relacionado à pandemia reforçam a importância do acompanhamento destes por equipe multidisciplinar que observe fatores fisiopatológicos e psicossociais.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and recurrent condition, influenced by environmental factors, that requires frequent medical prescriptions. The aim of this study was to investigate if children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis treated at a public clinic reported exacerbation of the disease or self-care problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study. Data were collected from the medical records of patients aged < 18 years with atopic dermatitis treated at a public outpatient clinic in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The perception of disease exacerbation in children and adolescents was evaluated using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Poisson regression was used to estimate the risk of worsening of skin lesions according to the fear of COVID-19. Results: The study sample included 33 patients, of whom 70% were female and 57.6% lived in the state's capital city. Mean patient age was 9.6 ± 3.9 years, and mean time of clinic follow-up was 4.6 ± 2.9 years. The perception of disease exacerbation during the pandemic was reported by 81.8% of children/adolescents. Children reported increased itching (78.3%) and desquamation (60.9%), whereas adolescents reported increased redness (60%). The fear of contracting COVID-19 was associated with an eight-fold increased risk of worsening of skin lesions.Conclusion: The high percentage of children/adolescents with worsening of skin lesions and the association between disease exacerbation and the fear of COVID-19 reinforce the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on pathophysiological and psychosocial factors in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Usefulness of dermoscopy in the evaluation of patch test reactions

Abstract Background: Despite being widely used in different areas of dermatology, there have been few studies evaluating the benefit of dermoscopy in the interpretation of patch tests, especially in weak and doubtful reactions. Objectives: To evaluate the role of dermoscopy in the interpretation of patch tests and describe the main findings of the reactions. Method: Prospective study, carried out in dermatology reference centers in southern Brazil, which evaluated the final results of patch tests analyzed with the aid of dermoscopy. Results: 77 patients and 160 reactions were included. The most prevalent substances were nickel sulphate (23.8%), kathon CG (9.4%), and perfume mix (8.8%). The main dermoscopic findings were reaction area greater than half of the chamber site (90%), homogeneous erythema (86.9%), vesicles (30%), crusts (21.3%), perifollicular erythema (35%), pore reaction (19.4%) and pustules (8.8%). Dermoscopy was found to facilitate the definition of erythema in reactions on black skin and when due to substances with deposition of pigment. Of the 64 weak or doubtful reactions, 36 (56.25%) showed a change in the final result after dermoscopy evaluation; of the 36 doubtful reactions, 33 (91.6%) showed a change in the final result after dermoscopy evaluation (p < 0.001). Study limitations: The probable limitation of the study is its sample size. Though certain significance levels have been reached, other possible relationships may not have been observed. Conclusion: Dermoscopy improves significantly the interpretation of patch tests, especially in weak and doubtful reactions.

Aspectos epidemiológicos da hanseníase em menores de 15 anos, diagnosticados em um Centro de Referência do Sul do Brasil, entre 2007 e 2017: uma tendência à mudança na detecção de casos novos? / Epidemiological aspects of leprosy under 15 years old diagnosed at a Referral Center in the South of Brazil, between 2007-2017: a tendency to change in the detection of new cases?

Introdução: A Hanseníase (Doença de Hansen) é uma doença infectocontagiosa, que apresenta tropismo pela pele e nervos periféricos, cujo diagnóstico tardio pode causar sequelas físicas e emocionais. A Hanseníase em crianças é considerada um dos principais indicadores da tendência da doença e sugere intensa circulação do Mycobacterium leprae. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo, observacional e analítico foi conduzido com dezoito crianças diagnosticadas e tratadas no Ambulatório de Dermatologia Sanitária de Porto Alegre, Brasil. As informações clínicas e sociodemográficas foram obtidas através do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: Durante o período de 2007-2017, 478 indivíduos foram diagnosticados como novos casos de Hanseníase em nosso Serviço; dentre esses, 18 (3,76%) eram crianças menores de 15 anos de idade, e sete foram diagnosticadas somente no ano de 2017. Dentre as 18 crianças, 15 (83,3%) eram multibacilares, e somente uma apresentou grau 2 de incapacidade. Aproximadamente 11% da amostra desenvolveram reações hansênicas durante o período de acompanhamento; 61,1% tinham entre 10 e 14 anos de idade. Contatos domiciliares foram identificados em 77,8% dos pacientes. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que, apesar da situação endêmica ser menos preocupante no Sul do Brasil em relação às demais regiões brasileiras, o aumento da incidência de casos de Hanseníase em 2017 em indivíduos menores de 15 anos pode indicar uma mudança na tendência da doença e do indicador de detecção de casos novos da Hanseníase no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil(AU).

Setting: Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is an infectious and contagious disease, which presents tropism on the skin and peripheral nerves, and its late diagnosis can lead to serious physical and emotional disabilities. Leprosy in children is considered one of the main indicators of the disease trend and suggests intense circulation of Mycobacterium leprae. Methods: A retrospective, observational and analytical study was conducted of 18 children, diagnosed as new cases of Leprosy and registered for treatment at the Ambulatory of Sanitary Dermatology, Porto Alegre, Brazil. The medical and socio-demographic details were obtained from the Information System for Notificable Diseases. Results: During 2007-2017, 478 people were diagnosed as new active cases of Leprosy at our referral center; among the registered patients, 18 (3,76%) were children aged under 15 years, of whom 15 (83,3%) were diagnosed with multibacillary disease and just one was reported with grade 2 of disability (G2D). Between new cases under 15 years of age, seven were detected in 2017. Nearly 11% of the sample developed reactions during the follow-up period; 61,1% were between 10 to 14 years old. Household contacts were identified in 77,7% of the patients. Conclusion: This study shows that despite the more favourable situation in the South of Brazil, the increase in Leprosy incidence in 2017 in individuals under 15 years may reveal a change in the trend of the disease and in the detection of the new cases of the Hansen's disease in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil(AU).

Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIa - case report / Facomatose pigmentovascular tipo IIa - relato de caso

Phacomatosis Pigmentovascularis is a rare syndrome characterized by capillary malformation and pigmentary nevus. A case of a 2-year-old patient is reported, who presented extensive nevus flammeus and an aberrant Mongolian spot, without systemic disease, manifestations that allow us to classify this case as type IIa Phacomatosis Pigmentovascularis, according to Hasegawa's classification.

A Facomatose Pigmentovascular, síndrome rara, é caracterizada pela presença concomitante de malformação capilar e nevos pigmentares. Relata-se o caso de um paciente de dois anos de idade com malformação capilar extensa e mancha mongólica aberrante sem comprometimento sistêmico, manifestações que o incluem no tipo IIa na classificação da Facomatose Pigmentovascular, segundo Hasegawa.

Caso para diagnóstico / Case for diagnosis

A doença de Dowling-Degos é uma genodermatose rara, caracterizada principalmente por hiperpigmentação reticular progressiva de áreas flexurais. Apesar de apresentar evolução benigna, pode estar associada a neoplasias da pele. Além disso, as alterações cutâneas características potencialmente ocasionam prejuízo psicossocial, devido aos danos estéticos significativos. Os autores descrevem um caso dessa doença associado a ceratoacantoma e sintetizam os conceitos atuais sobre ela.

Dowling-Degos disease is a rare genodermatosis characterized principally by progressive reticulate hyperpigmentation of the flexures. Although the condition is benign, it may be associated with skin malignancies. Furthermore, the characteristic skin changes may be psychologically and socially detrimental to the patient as a result of the unsightliness of the condition. The present report describes a case in which this disease was associated with a keratoacanthoma, and summarizes current concepts on this skin disorder.