A SURVEY OF CHILDHOOD PSORIASIS IN KUWAIT

One hundred ninety cases of childhood (age birth-12 yrs) psoriasis con stituted 0.3% of the total of new dermatologic outpatients. Girls outn umbered boys by a ratio of 1.5:1. Plaque psoriasis was the commonest c linical variant (84%), followed by guttate psoriasis. The scalp was th e most common site of onset (22%). Sites predominantly affected later were the extensor surfaces of the legs and the scalp (63% and 53%, res pectively). A majority of the children had a milder form of disease. N ail involvement was seen in 36%, with pitting the most common feature (87%). Seven percent had mucosal involvement. A positive family histor y of psoriasis was obtained in 28%. Topical therapy (coal tar, anthral in, steroids) was the main treatment in the majority of patients (92%) . Sixteen patients (8%) required more aggressive intervention (ultravi olet B, psoralin-UVA, retinoids). This is the first study of this kind from the Middle East, the findings are compared with those reported f rom other parts of the world.