[Epidemiologic profile of skin diseases in Tunisian children]

Skin diseases are fairly common in children and can be related to a heavy morbidity. However, very little data about the epidemiology of pediatric skin diseases are available in the literature. retrospective study about 2007 children seen at the dermatological outpatient's department of children's hospital of Tunis between January 1997 and December 2004. The children's sex, age and diagnosis were noted. the median age was 5 years 2 months +/- 4.5 years [range 3 days, 18 years]. Infants and preschool children represented 67.3per cent of the study population. There was 1023 boys and 984 girls [sex-ratio: 1.03]. There were 2100 skin diseases in the 2007 children. Skin infections constituted the largest group [35.3 per cent] followed by allergic skin diseases [26.3 per cent]. Among skin infections, viral infections were most prevalent [31.2 per cent], followed by fungal infections [28.2 per cent], bacterial infections [21.1 per cent] and parasitic infections [19.4 per cent]. Atopic dermatitis was the most prevalent allergic disease. It was also the most prevalent dermatosis in the infant group. The number of children with atopic dermatitis decreased with age, suggesting that this condition tends to clear with age. epidemiologic data are useful in monitoring changes in diseases trends in children and planning healthcare programs for them

[Aplasia cutis congenita [ACC] about two cases]

Aplasia cutis congenita is a congenital condition in which skin, bone, and dura can be absent with an estimate incidence of 1 in 10,000 births. The lesions may occur on any body surface although localised agenesis of the scalp is the most frequent pattern It occurs as an isolated defect or with other associated anomalies. We report 2 cases of ACC, one isolated and another with associated malformations

[Systemic juvenile scleroderma: about 6 cases]

Introduction: The systemic juvenile scleroderma [SJS] is a rare acquired auto-immune disease. The aim of our study was to analyse the epidemiologic, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic features

Patients and Methods: through a retrospective study, 6 patients were observed with SJS. We adopted the Barnett's classification. Results: The six patients were females, with a mean age of began on 9 +/- 3 years. Five patients were classified type II of Barnett and for 1 patient the classification was difficult. Raynaud's phenomen was observed in 4 cases. The cutaneous sclerosis was noted in the all cases. Five children presented oesophageal damage. Lung involvement was noted in 3 cases. No cardiac dysfunction was found at the clinical exam. Mild renal involvement was noted in 1 case. SJS was associated to systemic lupus in 2 cases and to dermatomyositis in 1 case

Discussion: Systemic juvenile scleroderma is rare. The cardiac involvement is a major concern in children; it appears to be a more common cause of death in SJS. The therapeutic problems were similar to those in adults

[Impetigo in childhood: study of 93 cases]

Impetigo is a superficial non follicular pyoderma due mainly to staphylococcus aureus and/or to streptococcus pyogenes. It occurs chiefly in childhood. We achieved a retrospective study dealing with 93 cases of impetigo occurring in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of this condition and its management. In our series, the mean age was 4.5 years with no sex predominance. Thirteen patients [14 per cent] had chronic diseases. Atopic dermatitis was seen in only 6.5 per cent of our patients. Impetigo occurred mainly in summer and autumn. The lesions were mostly erosions covered with yellowish crusts. Rarely, it was matter of vesicles and blisters. These lesions were mainly localized on the face. Treatment was based on antiseptic agents in all patients, associated to topical or systemic antibiotics

[Are spring water thermal cures helpful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis?]

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis [AD] is usually high in western countries, varying from 18% to 20% that s why AD is considered as a public health problem. Although the prevalence of AD in Tunisia is not as high as in European countries, recent studies suggest an increasing of this frequency. Spring water thermal cures are considered as a helpful adjuvant measure in the treatment of AD. We present the clinic and therapeutic features of atopic dermatitis and discuss the indication of spring water thermal cures

[Cutaneous mastocytosis in children. A review of 15 cases]

Introduction: Cutaneous mastocytosis [CM] is a rare disease defined as the infiltration of the skin by mast cells. This disorder is more frequentin children. The evolution of the pediatric form to a systemic disease is rare

Patients and Methods: Our study concerned 15 children seen in the dermatology department of Charles Nicolle Hospital between 1984 and 2002. The aim of this work is to show clinic, therapeutic and evolutive particularities of this disease

Results: Sex-ratio was about 0.87 [7 males and 8 females]. The age at onset of the lesion ranged from one month to 11.5 years. Urticaria pigmentosa was observed in 11 cases, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis in 2 cases and and xanthelasmoid form in two other children. The treatment of our patients was based essentially on preventive measures and symptomatic therapy with histamine receptor antagonists. Over a mean follow-up period of 11 months we noted regression or resolution of the lesions in 9 cases

Discussion: Urticaria pigmentosa is the most benign. However, systemic signs are more frequent in the diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis form. Preventive measures are the main therapeutic mean; especially avoidance of histamine-releasing agents