[Cutaneous infection in geriatric patients - about 656 cases]

Skin disorders in elderly people are frequent, numerous and variable. The goal of this study was to describe the distinctive features of cutaneous diseases in aged people in an outpatient clinic of dermatology. Two thousands and twelve patients files were studied. The age varied from 65 to 99 years [mean 72 years]. Most of the patients [47.5%] were in the age section 65-70 years with a predominance of male patients [55.1%]. The most common skin conditions were infectious diseases [32.6%]. Superficial mycoses were diagnosed in 30% of cases. Dermatophytoses were the commonest infections [52%]. Erysipelas was the leading cause of bacterial infections [26% of all cases]. Parasitic diseases [6.6%] were dominated by scabies. Skin disorders are certainly underestimated in our study. The low frequency of elderly seeking health care in dermatologic clinic in our series, could be explained by the predominance of young people in the general population. Cutaneous disorders in elderly are dominated by infectious and malignant tumoral conditions, the latter increasing with age

[Diabetes mellitus cutaneous manifestations]

Diabetes mellitus cutaneous manifestations are numerous. The aim of this case control study [200 diabetic patients and 100 controls]. was to estimate the frequency of these manifestations, their clinical particularities and their relationship to the duration of the disease, the equilibrium and degenerative complications of the diabetes. Cutaneous manifestations were found in 84,5% of the diabetic patients and in 49% of controls. Diabetic dermopathy [DD] was found in 11,5% of patients and necrobiosis lipoidica in 1 case. Diabetic bullosa was reported in 6% of cases. It was more commune in ancient and poorly controlled disease. Diabetic rubeosis was found in 3% of diabetic patients and cheiroarthropathy in 7%. Cutaneous infections, mainly due to fungus [47%], were found in 63% of patients and 44% of controls. Side effects of antidiabetic medications were noted in 11% of cases. The high frequency of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus, in our study, could be explained by the inclusion of all skin diseases, in particular, cutaneous infections. The manifestations were significantly more frequent in diabetic patients. DD, diabetic bullosa and cheiroarthropathy are the most specific manifestations. Skin infections are common but non specific. They are favorised by poorly controlled diabetes. Complications of the diabetic foot are frequent