Skin diseases in patients with primary psychiatric conditions: a hospital based study

Although the relationship between skin diseases in patients with primary psychiatric conditions is important for patient management, studies on this issue are limited. To detect the frequency and type of cutaneous disorders among patients with primary psychiatric conditions. This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 400 subjects - 200 patients with primary psychiatric disorders and 200 age and sex matched individuals free from primary psychiatric disorders. Patients included in the study were diagnosed according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DMS IV] Criteria. A specially designed questionnaire including socio-demographic data, medical history, family history and dermatological examination was applied. The data were statistically analyzed. There was a significant statistical increase in the prevalence of skin diseases in general and infectious skin diseases in particular in psychiatric patients compared with non-psychiatric patients [71.5% versus 22%, P < 0.001] and [48% versus 11%, P < 0.001], respectively. Parasitic infestations [42.7%] were the most common infectious skin diseases in psychiatric patients [P < 0.001]. Infectious skin diseases in psychiatric patients were seen most in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia [83.6%] and least in obsessive compulsive disorders [30%][P < 0.001]. Psychogenic skin disorders were found in 8.4% of psychiatric patients with skin diseases; delusional parasitosis was the most common [50%]. Health education of psychiatric patients and/or of their caregiver and periodic monthly inspection of psychiatric patients are highly indicated for the prevention and control of infectious skin diseases in primary psychiatric patients

Some epidemiological aspects of eye injuries

200 patients presenting with eye injuries [El] at outpatient ophthalmic clinic of Al-Zahraa [A1-Azhar University Hospital] were interviewed to identify some of the possible epidemiological aspects that may be related to eye injuries. The results revealed that: the majority of El occurred during out door activities [work 30.5%, public activities 27.5% school 17.5%, and shooting 7.5%], males were more affected [74%] than females [26%], the majority of El [47%] occurred as a result of negligence, responsible for 54.5% where 84.9% of them occurred in extrreme degrees of temperature, past history of El was also presented among 11% of patients and only 3% were unable to continue their previous work

Left-handedness among some girl students from Al-Azhar university

The prevalence of left-h and edness was estimated among 1878 girl students of Al-Azhar University and found to be 2.9%. The left- h and ed girls were compared with a right-h and ed matched control group. Some possible etiological factors were probed. Mean maternal age was higher among the left-h and ed [24.09 years] [P <0.05]. Family history of left-h and edness was higher among the left than the right- h and ed group [32.7%, 21.4%, respectively], yet difference is statistically insignificant [P >0.05]. Illiteracy of mothers was significantly higher [61.8%] among the left-h and ed than the right- h and ed [43.8%] group [P <0.05]. The former did not show a tendency to shift their children to use their right h and. The reverse is observed in case of educated mothers with the corresponding figures [38.2%] [56.25%], and the difference is statistically significant [P <0.05]. Self-reported injuries among both groups were compared