A Hospital Based Study to Assess the Pattern of Nail Abnormalities and Their Correlation with Dermatological and Systemic Disease Among Children

Abstract

Background: Nail disorders in infants and children are relatively uncommon. Their incidence is influenced by ethnic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors and varies in different populations and studies. The aim of this study to assess the pattern of nail abnormalities and their correlation with dermatological and systemic disease among children. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective study of done on 200 consecutive patients conducted in the outpatient clinic in the department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy & department of medicine at RVRS Medical College Hospital Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India with nail changes, were taken up for the study during the one-year period. Patients of pediatrics age groups and both sexes with nail changes were taken up for the study. Results: In the present study, the nature of nail alterations were seen in two hundred random dermatological patients with 110 males (55%) and 90 females (45%) with nail changes. Male to female ratio was 1.2:1. 100 (50%) patients had associated dermatoses, 88 (44%) presented without associated dermatoses, and 12 (6%) were associated with geno dermatoses. Fingernails (56%) were more commonly involved than toenails (10%) in this study. Onychomycosis was the commonest nail change observed in 45.45% of patients without associated dermatoses. Nail changes with associated dermatoses were present in 50% of patients. Among them, psoriasis (44%) was the commonest dermatoses followed by onychomychosis with cutaneous involvement in 18%. Conclusion: Psoriasis (44%) was the most common dermatoses associated with nail changes. Distal lateral subungual type of onychomycosis was the commonest cause of nail changes without associated dermatoses.