Validation of the Patient-Oriented SCORing for Atopic Dermatitis tool for black skin

Background

SCORing for Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) is a tool developed by the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis (AD) which is used by physicians to assess AD severity during consultations with their patients. Patient‐Oriented SCORAD (PO‐SCORAD) is a self‐assessment tool for use by patients which has been validated in a study performed in European countries. However, there is currently no adapted tool for evaluating AD severity in black skin.

Objective

To evaluate the performance of the version of the PO‐SCORAD specifically adapted for black skin patients (children and adults) with AD.

Methods

In this multicenter, cross‐sectional and non‐interventional study, children and adults with AD were recruited during regular consultations. This international study was performed in seven sub‐Saharan countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mali and Senegal). During the consultation, AD severity was assessed by the physician using SCORAD score and by the patients or parents using PO‐SCORAD.

Results

One hundred and thirteen patients were included, 72 children and 41 adults, mainly females (61.6%). SCORAD assessed by physicians and PO‐SCORAD assessed by patients/parents were well correlated (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). Correlation coefficients for SCORAD and PO‐SCORAD subscale scores were also good, except for symptom intensity criteria.

Conclusion

Altogether, these data indicate that PO‐SCORAD for black skin correlates well with SCORAD and is therefore a valuable tool, which requires no specific level of education, for use by black skin patients with AD.

Prevalence of xerosis, eczema, and hair and nail abnormalities in PLWHA in Cotonou, Benin

BACKGROUND

The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of xerosis, eczema, and hair and nail abnormalities in PLWHA in Cotonou.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on the records of PLWHA in Cotonou. All PLWHA with xerosis, eczema, or abnormal appendages were included.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients had xerosis or eczema. Their mean age was 38 years; the sex ratio 0.51 and the mean CD4 count 89 cells/mm(3). Twenty-three patients had xerosis, which affected the whole body (n = 20), lower limb (n = 2), limbs and trunk (n = 1), without gender difference. Twenty-four patients had eczema of which eight had both eczema and xerosis. Forty-two patients had abnormalities of the hair or nails. Their sex ratio was 0.80 and the mean CD4 count 110 cells/mm(3) . Nineteen patients had abnormalities of the hair and scalp: straight hair (n = 16), squamous lesions (n = 2), and folliculitis abscess (n = 1) with a male predominance. Twenty-three patients had nail dermatophytosis (n = 15), candidiasis (n = 7), and ingrowing nails (n = 1). These conditions affected more often women (74%) than men (26%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of eczema and xerosis is low in our patients. Onychomycosis was the most frequent nail abnormality.

[Drug eruptions in children in Cotonou, Benin]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological aspects of drug eruptions in children in hospital area in Cotonou.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Dermatology of Cotonou (Benin) from 1998 to 2009. All cases of drug eruption occurred, during the study period, in children under 16 years old were selected for the study. The diagnosis of the drug eruption was based on clinical findings. The Identification of culprit drugs was based on the criteria as defined by the French Group of Pharmaco-vigilance.

RESULTS

From 1998 to 2009, 232 cases of drug eruption were diagnosed in the Department of Dermatology. Of this, 35 cases occurred in children under 16 years old. The patient mean age was 6.6 years with a sex ratio of 0.94. 4 patients were HIV positive. The culprit drug was identified in 21 patients (60%): sulfonamides 52.38% (11/21 cases), penicillin 9.52% (2 cases), vaccine 9.52% (2 cases), acetaminophen 9.52% (2 cases), acetyl salicylic acid 4.76% (n = 1), quinine 4.76% (n = 1), phenobarbital 4.76% (n = 1) and ceftriaxone 4.76% (n = 1). The main clinical patterns were: fixed drug eruption 45.71% (16/35), maculopapular rash 17.14% (n = 6), Stevens-Johnson syndrome 17.14% (n=6), and urticaria 8.57% (n = 3), 1 case of toxic epidermal necrolysis was seen and one patient died.

CONCLUSION

Skin reactions caused by drug intake are a rare disorder among children and fixed drug eruption is the main clinical presentation of the disease in Cotonou (Benin).

[Mucocutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Cotonou, Benin]

The purpose of this study was to describe mucocutaneous manifestations observed in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Cotonou, Benin. A transverse retrospective study was carried out on the records of PLHIV who underwent follow-up at the Military Teaching Hospital in Cotonou from February 2002 to September 2005. The files of all eligible adult patients examined by dermatologists prior to initiation of antiretroviral treatment were reviewed. Dermatologic manifestations were defined as any cutaneous or cicatricial lesion of the skin. Data was analyzed using the EPI INFO software package. (version 6.0). A total of 152 patient files were included. The sex ratio was 1.10 with a female predominance. Mean age was 37.8 years. HIV1 was predominant (98%). Two-thirds of patients were as stage 3 according to the WHO classification. A total of 276 dermatologic manifestations were identified. The most common manifestations were buccopharyngeal candidiasis (24.6%), prurigo (20.6%), shingles (11.6%), and dermatophytosis (10.5%). The mean CD4 lymphocyte level was 106 cells/mm3. The CD4 level was below 100 cells/mm3 in 52% of cases involving candidiasis and 60% of cases involving prurigo. Dermatologic findings in this study were identical to those described in most studies from Africa and Asia. However the low prevalence of Koposi's sarcoma and seborrheic dermitits was surprising given the advanced stage of immunodepression in our patients. The most frequent mucocutaneous manifestations of HIV infection in Benin are infectious disease and prurigo.

[Gangrene with pyocyanic infection and osteitis in a patient presenting endemic Kaposi's sarcoma: case report from Benin]

Infectious complications involving chronic skin ulcers have been well document but superinfection of ulcerated Kaposi's sarcoma nodules by multiresistant germs has rarely been reported. The purpose of this report is to describe a case in a 57-year-old HIV-negative black African man. Kaposi's sarcoma nodules appeared suddenly and spread rapidly on the right leg with pain and fever. Onset was associated with a laboratory-documented inflammatory syndrome and two metatarsal bone defects. Amputation of the leg was required due to the presence of multiresistant germs: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multiresistant Staphylococus aureus and Candida albicans. Occurrence of bone lesions beneath superinfected Kaposi's sarcoma nodules poses a challenge for differential diagnosis of the underlying cause, i.e. either Kaposi's sarcoma or infectious osteitis. Since etiologic diagnosis of bone defects requires facilities that are rarely available in an African hospital, surgical treatment is the only alternative if antimicrobial therapy fails.