Chilblains in Turkey: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Chilblains are rather common in winter months in our country. OBJECTIVES: Determination of demographical and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with chilblains in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) as risk factor for development of chilblains. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients who were diagnosed as chilblains at our outpatient clinics were included in this study. No exclusion criteria were sought. Demographical data including height and weight and answers to questions related to personal history were recorded. A control group consisting of 108 controls were chosen from among patients presenting with complaints of hair loss. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: Of the 69 patients with chilblains, 45 (65.2%) were females and 24 (34.8%) were males. Mean age (±SD) of the patients was 21±9. 71.2% of the patients complained of itching, 51.6% of pain, 31.3% of burning in the lesions. 61.3% of the patients reported recurrence of the lesions every winter season. Mean BMI of the patients was 20.5±2.9. Mean BMI of the controls was 22.4±3.7 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Low BMI may be a risk factor contributing to development of chilblains in persons exposed to cold weather conditions. Apart from external factors, there seems to be a personal tendency to develop lesions, as many patients report recurrences every year. Diagnosis of chilblains requires wariness, as history of cold exposure may not be evident. .

Case for diagnosis / Caso para diagnóstico

Chilblains are an inflammatory skin condition that develops following exposure to the cold. They consist of pruritic and/or painful erythematous-to-violaceous acral lesions and are the result of an abnormal vascular response to exposure to the cold. This benign condition is common in southern Brazil, particularly in Rio Grande do Sul where climatic conditions, together with cultural and economic aspects, facilitate the development of these sores.

Eritema pérnio é uma condição inflamatória da pele que ocorre após exposição ao frio e se manifesta com lesões eritêmato-violáceas, pruriginosas e dolorosas nas extremidades. Ocorre devido a uma resposta vascular alterada à exposição ao frio. Esta condição benigna é frequente na região sul do Brasil, especialmente no Rio Grande do Sul, onde as características clínicas, associadas a aspectos culturais e econômicos, promovem o desenvolvimento do eritema pérnio.

Chilblains at Abbottabad, a moderately cold weather station

Chilblains are quite often seen in various parts, in particular cold weather areas of Pakistan. Unfortunately, no studies have so far been carried out in Pakistan, to determine epidemiological aspects of chilblains. The objective of this study was to see the epidemiological patterns of chilblains at a moderately cold weather station. The study was conducted at Dermatology out patient department of Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad from 1 Dec 2004 to 31 Mar 2005. All the patients fulfilling clinical criteria for the diagnosis of chilblains were registered. Every patient was interviewed in detail followed by thorough physical examination. Complete Blood Count, Urine Routine Examination and Anti Nuclear Factor were carried out in only those patients, having the disease of more than 3 years duration. A pre-designed proforma was filled separately for each patient. Out of 111 patients, 67 [60.4%] males and 44 [39.6%] females were registered with the diagnosis of chilblains. Fifty nine [53.2%] patients were locals and 52 [46.8%] were non locals. Out door workers were 75 [67.6%]. Onset in majority of the patients [42.3%] was in the age group 11-20 years. Family history of chilblains was present in 25 [22.5%] patients and 8 patients [7.2%] were smokers. The disease of longer duration was more common in females and locals. At moderately cold weather areas, out door workers and young adolescents are more likely to develop Chilblains. The disease of longer duration is more common among females and local residents. On the other hand, first episode or the disease of shorter duration is more common among non locals at moderately cold weather stations because of poor acclimatization and inadequate protection

Eritema pernio en dos gemelas de ocho meses de vida / Chillblains in two tween sisters eigth months old

Se comunican 2 pacientes gemelas, de ocho meses de vida, que presentan lesiones maculares eritematovioláceas localizadas en el dorso y regiones laterales de los pies, con edema de los dedos. Se realizan los estudios histopatológicos que son compatibles con eritema pernio, entidad que se diagnostica con poca frecuencia en lactantes