Acne prevalence, severity and risk factors among medical students in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acne is a common skin disorder which can cause physical scaring and impact the quality of life. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, severity and the risk factors for developing acne among medical students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study among UKM medical students from academic year 1 to 5 was conducted from July 2011 to May 2012. A total of 361 students were selected by stratified cluster sampling method. Baseline data of the students, risk factors, height and weight were recorded. Acne severity was graded using the Comprehensive Acne Severity Scale (CASS). RESULTS: The prevalence of acne among medical students is 68.1% (n=246). Males and females were almost equally affected (1:1.1). Majority students with acne were graded as almost clear (55.7%, n=137), mild (35.0%, n=86), moderate (7.7%, n=19), and severe (1.6%, n=4). More than half of them had developed acne scars (59.0%, n= 213). Males were found to be at higher risk of developing acne compared to females (p<0.05, OR=4.734; 95%CL=2.726-8.222). They are also at higher risk of developing moderate and severe grades of acne compared to females (p=0.001). The odds for developing acne was higher when mother (p=0.029; OR=1.752; 95%CL=1.058-2.902) or father (p=0.027; OR=1.852; 95%CL=1.072-3.201) had acne. When both parents were affected by acne the odds of developing acne was 3 times. (p=0.025; OR=3.056; 95%CL=1.153-8.094). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the prevalence of acne among medical students is high. Hence, it is important to identify those at risk and provide optimal treatment to prevent scarring and possible low self esteem among these future doctors.

Cat's Curse: A Case of Misdiagnosed Kerion.

Kerion is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis which can be mistaken for bacterial infection or folliculitis as both conditions display similar clinical features. It occurs most frequently in prepubescent children and rarely in adults. We report a 26-year-old woman who presented with multiple tender inflammed nodules on her scalp. Her condition was misdiagnosed as bacterial abscess and treated with multiple courses of antibiotics without improvement. Later, her condition was re-diagnosed as kerion based on clinical appearance, history of contact with infected animal and Wood's lamp examination. symptoms and lesions resolved completely with systemic antifungal treatment leaving residual scarring alopecia. The delay in the diagnosis and treatment of this patient resulted in permanent scarring alopecia.