A Screening Study on Dermatoses in Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy produces many cutaneous changes, some of which are specifically related to pregnancy (dermatoses of pregnancy), some are modifiable by pregnancy and others that are common are named physiologic. These physiologic skin changes, usually do not impair the health of the mother or the fetus but some of them can be cosmetically significant and of importance to the dermatologist. AIM: The present study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of the physiological and pathological skin changes in pregnancy, and to correlate the prevalence of the major cutaneous changes and diseases in relation to different trimesters of pregnancy and with gravidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of August 2008 to August 2010. Ethical clearance was sought from Institutional Ethical Committee. Five hundred pregnant women were randomly selected, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and gravidity. Detailed history and complete dermatological examination was done. Results were tabulated and analysed. Statistical analysis was done by Fisher's exact test and Chi square test. RESULTS: Physiological skin changes were seen in 94.8% of cases, with pigmentary changes being more common (90.8%). Specific dermatoses of pregnancy were observed in 14% of cases with pruritus gravidarum being the most common (10.4%). Prevalence of infection was found to 30.8% with fungal infection being the most common (23.8%). Exacerbations of systemic lupus erythematosus and neurofibromatosis was observed. Pigmentary changes, striae gravidarum and specific dermatoses of pregnancy were observed in statistically significant proportion in primigravidas and during third trimester. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes that the prevalence of physiological skin changes (94.8%) was much higher than specific dermatoses (14%), stressing the fact that in most instances, the skin problems during pregnancy needs only reassurance. But meticulous observation and examination should be done, as pregnancy can influence many dermatological diseases and infections.

Monilethrix with holt-oram syndrome: case report of a rare association.

Congenital hypotrichosis may be due to a number of causes and may have multiple systemic associations. A child born of second-degree consanguineous marriage was found to have monilethrix as the cause of congenital hypotrichosis. A detailed systemic evaluation in the child revealed atrial septal defect and a hypoplastic right thumb leading to a diagnosis of coexisting Holt-Oram syndrome.

Congenital calcinosis cutis of the foot.

Calcinosis cutis is a rare disease characterized by deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the skin. Subepidermal calcified nodule is a form of idiopathic calcinosis cutis that commonly affects children but rarely presents at birth. Herein we describe a healthy 10-month-old boy who had a solitary hard nodule on the left foot since birth. Surgical excision of the nodule was done and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of subepidermal calcified nodule.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a rare vascular tumor.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is an intermediate-grade vascular tumor arising from the vascular endothelium, which usually arises in soft tissue, and skin involvement is extremely rare. We report a case that presented with primary cutaneous tumor involving the whole limb and was present since birth.

Olmsted syndrome: report of two cases.

Olmsted syndrome is an uncommon genetic disorder with symmetrical, diffuse, transgredient, mutilating palmoplantar keratoderma and periorificial hyperkeratosis. Olmsted syndrome in a female patient is particularly rare, and we report two unrelated female patients of Olmsted syndrome, who presented with perioral hyperkeratosis and palmoplantar keratoderma. One of our patients also had woolly hair from birth and flexion contracture of a digit, while the other had pseudoainhum. There was no cardiac involvement. Hence, the diagnosis of Olmsted syndrome was made.