Nevus of Ota: a series of 15 cases.

BACKGROUND: The nevus of Ota is a dermal nevus characterized by bluish pigmentation in the distribution of the first and the second division of the trigeminal nerve. AIM: Our aim was to study the cutaneous and extracutaneous manifestations of the nevus of Ota. METHODS: A total of 15 cases were included in our study. A detailed history, clinical examination along with direct ophthalmoscopy and otoscopy were done for all the cases. RESULTS: Most of the patients (60%) had lesions at birth and the majority (86.7 %) were females. Five (33.3%) patients belonged to Tanino class II. Combined dermal and ocular involvement was observed in 60% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Tanino class II was the most common type observed in our studies. A few rarer associations such as nevus of Ito and hemangioma were also noted in our patients.

Pattern of skin diseases among migrant construction workers in Mangalore.

BACKGROUND: With increasing industrialization, the construction industry provides employment to a large number of skilled and nonskilled workers, many of them migrant workers. AIM: This study was undertaken to provide epidemiological data regarding various dermatoses among migrant construction workers in India as currently there is a paucity of the same. METHODS: One thousand construction workers, including 467 migrant laborers, were examined for various dermatoses. RESULTS: Most (88%) workers were males and 51.17% were in their third decade. Infective and noninfective dermatoses were seen in 89.72% and 53.74% of laborers respectively. Among infective dermatoses, fungal infections were the most common (46.25%) ones, followed by bacterial infections (24.83%), scabies (8.56%) and viral infections (6.42%). Contact dermatitis to cement was seen in 12.48% of the laborers. Masons had a significantly higher incidence of contact dermatitis to cement, viral infections and scabies than helpers. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of dermatoses is an expression of poverty, overcrowding and the occupational hazards of the construction industry.

A study of skin disorders in patients with primary psychiatric conditions.

BACKGROUND: The skin occupies a powerful position as an organ of communication and plays an important role in socialization throughout life. The interface between dermatology and psychiatry is complex and of clinical importance. AIMS: To document the incidence of cutaneous disorders in patients with primary psychiatric conditions. METHODS: Three hundred patients with a primary psychiatric condition who had cutaneous disease were entered into the study group. The patients were classified appropriately based on the classification of psychocutaneous disorders. The control group included 300 patients presenting with a skin disorder and without any known psychiatric complaint. RESULTS: The majority of the cases in the study group were in the 3rd-5th decade. In this study, the most common primary psychiatric conditions were manic depressive psychosis (53.33%), depression (36.33%), schizophrenia (8.33%) and anxiety (2%). Of the study group, 68.66% patients had infective dermatoses and the rest had non-infective dermatoses. A high incidence of pityriasis versicolor and dermatophyte infections was noted in males from the study group. Among non-infective dermatoses, 8% had eczema, and psychogenic skin disorders were seen in 4.67% of the study group. Of these, delusions of parasitosis were the commonest (2%) followed by venereophobia (1%). CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant higher incidence of tinea versicolor and dermatophyte infections was seen in the study group. Delusion of parasitosis was the most common psychogenic skin disorder seen in the study group, followed by venereophobia.

Rare sequelae of herpes zoster in HIV positive patient.

A 34 year -old woman, who was diagnosed to be HIV positive 4 years back, presented with zoster along T-6 dermatome followed by development of keloid.

Generalised cutis laxa.

A 44-year-old man presented with generalised progressive lax skin of 14 years duration associated with dysphagia, joint pains and hoarseness of voice. Examination revealed "blood hound" like facies, lox skin with loss of elasticity, dilated tortuous superficial vessels over extremities and back. Systemic involvement noted were oesophageal and pharyngeal diverticuli, inguinal hernia and dermatochalasis. Skin biopsy using Verhoeff Van Gieson's stain was suggestive of cutis laxa.

Occupational dermatoses in beedi rollers.

A total of 91 beedi workers were analyzed for the pattern of cutaneous lesions. Period of rolling beedi ranged from 2 months to 40 years. Dermatological findings included; callosities seen in 51 (56.04%) of workers on fingers and feet, nail changes in 22 (24.18%) like pigmentation, paronychia, dystrophy which were more prominent on the right index finger, fungal infections in 15 and eczemas in 29. Callosities and localised nail changes can be considered to be occupational marks in beedi rollers correlated to use of scissors for cutting leaves and use of gum and artificial metallic nails for rolling beedis.