Demographic and clinical profile of childhood psoriasis in a tertiary hospital: A six-year retrospective study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of local literature focusing on childhood psoriasis.OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinico-demographic profile of childhood psoriasis patients seen in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) dermatology outpatient clinic.METHODS: Records of psoriasis patients aged 18 and below seen at the PGH dermatology outpatient clinic from January 2004 to December 2009 were reviewed.RESULTS: A female preponderance of childhood psoriasis with a male-to-female gender ratio of 12 was found. Mean age of onset was earlier in males (7.89 ± 5.77) than females (12.27 ± 5.35) (p-value = 0.026). Chronic plaque type psoriasis was most frequent (71.43%), followed by guttate (16.67%), erythrodermic (7%) and pustular psoriasis (5%). The scalp (61.9%) was the most common overall initial site of onset followed by the trunk (50%). Nail involvement was seen in 29% while 11.9% had joint involvement. Topical steroid application was the most commonly used treatment.CONCLUSION: This retrospective study reveals a female predominance of childhood psoriasis in the Filipino population. The most common overall initial site of onset is the scalp and the most frequent psoriasis phenotype overall is plaque-type psoriasis.