Clinical and demographic profile of childhood alopecia areata in Iran

To evaluate the clinical profile of alopecia areata [AA] in Iranian children. One hundred Iranian children aged less than 16 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by administering a parental-recall questionnaire; and clinical and demographic parameters and associated diseases were evaluated. The mean age of AA onset was 8.9 +/- 2.1 years. The scalp was the most common site of involvement. Thirty-five percent of the patients had a precipitating factor, with psychological stress being the most common factor. Associated diseases were recorded in 60% of the patients, with the most common associated disease being eczema. Twenty-one percent of the patients were positive for a family history of AA. Severity and extent of the disease and the age of onset showed significant relationships with parents' educational and economic status [p<0.05]. Nail changes were also strongly associated with severity and extent of the disease [P=0.006]. Our results suggest that the severity and extent of the disease both increase with anearly age of onset, low parent educational levels, low socioeconomic status, and nail changes

Evaluation of quality of life in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing disease of the skin with psychological and somatic impacts that leads to substantial effects on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life in psoriatic patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 psoriatic patients in dermatology and PUVA clinic in Afzalipour hospital in Kerman from March 2009 to March 2010. Quality of life and disease severity were Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] and Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI]. Data analysis was done through conducting, chi-square and one-way AVONA tests and P<0.05 was considered as significant. 55.7% of patients were male and mean age of them was 35.3 years [range: 16-75 years]. Psoriasis vulgaris was the most common type [76.3%], and arthropathy was seen in 3.1% of patients .The mean duration of the disease was 21 months [range: 11 months-30 years].The mean of DLQI score was 14.1 [range: 1-29] and mean PASI score was 18.6 [range: 0.6-66.6]. DLOI score correlated with severity of disease [PASI], marital status, and type of the disease [P<0.05]. Psoriasis has a severe negative impact on the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, supportive social and spiritual efforts are necessary to decrease these effects