Author/Authors :
Conti, Rossana University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Colucci, Roberta University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Arunachalam, Meena University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Berti, Samantha University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Fabroni, Caterina University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Martino, Maurizio De University of Florence - Pediatric Dermatology Service of Anna Meyer Pediatric Hospital of Florence - Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Italy , Dragoni, Federica University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Lazzeri, Linda University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Pisaneschi, Lisa University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy , Moretti, Silvia University of Florence - Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Italy
Abstract :
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of hair and scalp disorders in children referred to the Pediatric Dermatology Outpatient Clinic. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of children with hair loss problems or scalp diseases who turned to the Pediatric Dermatology Service, Anna Meyer Pediatric Hospital, Florence, Italy, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. Demographics, personal and familial medical history, laboratory tests, clinical examination, final diagnosis and therapeutic interventions were obtained from the manual chart review. Results: Of the 2,640 children who had access to the Pediatric Dermatology Service, 190 (7.19%) had a hair or scalp disorder. Among the 190 children, 60 (31.57%) presented with nonscarring alopecia, 56 (29.47%) had benign neoplasias, hamartomas or vascular malformations of the scalp, 51 (26.84%) had scalp inflammatory diseases, 14 (7.36%) had scarring alopecia, 5 (2.63%) had infections and 2 (1.05%) had infestation of the scalp. A case of constitutional hypertrichosis (0.52%) and also a case (0.52%) of lamellar ichthyosis were diagnosed. Conclusions: Our results underline that hair and scalp diseases represent an important percentage of admittances to a dermatological pediatric outpatient clinic. The variety and complexity of the diseases observed in this study included diseases commonly found also in adulthood.
