A comparative study of pediatric onset psoriasis with adult onset psoriasis

Psoriasis in childhood is not uncommon. We report data collected from 223 p ediatric onset and 484 adult onset psoriasis patients. In the pediatric ons et psoriasis patients (POPPs), prevalence of family history was 68.2% compa red to 54% in the adult onset psoriasis patients (AOPPs). Also we noticed t hat exacerbation of psoriasis induced by precipitating factors such as stre ss (50.4% in POPPs, 42.7% in AOPPs), pharyngitis (27.9% in POPPs, 12.2% in AOPPs), and trauma (49.6% in POPPs and 38.9% in AOPPs) were more frequent i n POPPs. Our data show that the frequency of spontaneous remission in POPPs was 35.3% compared to 24.3% in AOPPs. A disfiguring skin disease in childh ood may have profound emotional effects. Childhood psoriasis needs special attention. To achieve a prolonged remission it is essential that children w ith psoriasis and their parents have an understanding of the exogenous and endogenous factors responsible for the increased morbidity of psoriasis.