[Quality-of-life of adolescents with acne vulgaris]. / Kvaliteta zivota adolescenata s akne vulgaris.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality of life in adolescents with acne vulgaris in relation to the severity of clinical picture and sex using the Skindex-29 general questionnaire. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a sectional study, the quality of life was analyzed in 90 adolescents of both sexes, aged 16 to 21 years, who were suffering from acne vulgaris. The study was conducted between January 1, 2008 and January 31, 2009, at Department of Dermatovenereology, Dr. Irfan Ljubijankic Cantonal Hospital in Biha6. According to the type of efflorescence, its localization and severity of clinical features, respondents were classified in three groups: group 1 consisted of adolescents with acne comedonica, group 2 with acne papulopustulosa, and group 3 with acne conglobata. The quality of life in these adolescents suffering from acne vulgaris was evaluated by using the general Skindex-29 questionnaire consisting of 30 questions grouped into three scales (scale of emotions, symptom scale, and scale of social and physical functioning) about the psychological impact of acne on the quality of life. RESULTS: In the study group, there were 54 (60%) female and 36 (40%) male respondents, mean age 17.5 (range 15.6-20.6) years. Of the total number of patients with acne vulgaris, nine (4 female and 5 male; 10%) had acne comedonica (group 1), 72 (46 female and 26 male; 80%) acne papulopustulosa (group 2) and nine (4 female and 5 male; 10%) acne conglobata (group 3) (p > 0.95). Skindex-29 values expressed as mean +/- SD or median (range) in groups 1,2 and 3 were as follows: on the scale of emotions 43.1 +/- 22.2, 60.4 +/- 20.1 and 52.5 +/- 28.7 (p = 0.084); on the scale of symptoms 26.5 +/- 15.4, 49.0 +/- 20.5 and 42.95 +/- 26.1 (p = 0.039); and on the scale of functioning 23.4 +/- 24.6, 36.0 +/- 23.2 and 34.8 +/- 30.9 (p = 0.341), with cumulative score of 31.0 +/- 10.5, 47.5 +/- 12.0 and 43.44 +/- 8.8 (p = 0.069), respectively. Skindex-29 values were expressed as median (range) in women and men in all three groups, as follows: women, scale of emotions 44.0 (27.5-60), 64.0 (10-90) and 62.5 (5-83) (p = 0.25); scale of symptoms 32.7 (21.5-42.4), 54.2 (17.6-90) and 63.5 (17.8-92) (p = 0.17); scale of functioning 22.2 (2-46.5), 39.2 (0-90) and 51.6 (0-83) (p = 0.31); and men, scale of emotions 30.0 (22.5-90), 55.5 (7.5-100) and 40.2 (30-97.5) (p = 0.26); scale of symptoms 11.9 (4-50), 54.0 (0-75) and 28.5 (17.8-42.8) (p = 0.003); and scale of functioning 13.0 (5-77), 31.7 (0-84) and 14.6 (4.5-72.9) (p = 0.58). CONCLUSION: Acne vulgaris affects the quality of life in adolescents involved regardless of the severity of the clinical picture, with a pronounced impact in women.

[Significance of atopic diathesis in atopic diseases prediction]. / Znacenje atopijske dijateze u odredivanju predikcije atopijskih oboljenja.

INTRODUCTION: Atopy is a complex disorder characterized by affinity for elevated titre of IgE antibodies against one or more ubiquitous antigens, by the joint respiratory and skin manifestations, that is caused by an individual gene structure. Urticaria is a monomorphous dermatosis meaning a short-lived eruption of urticaria, characterized by circumscript edema of superficial dermis. AIM: The objective of this study was to establish a participation of atopic genesis in the examined groups, on the basis of the questionnaire results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 184 subjects, 10-60 years old, divided into the group with atopic diseases (70), the group with chronic urticaria (66), and the group with healthy controls (48). The questionnaire contained data on the family and personal history, clinical symptoms (dry skin, sneezing, eye-tearing, heavy breathing, etc.), and total IgE values in periphery blood. Each of these symptoms was qualified by curtain number of points (0.5-2), and the testees were classified into the groups according to the total score: with no atopic diathesis (0-8), unclear atopic diathesis (8-12), probable atopic diathesis (12-16), and clear atopic diathesis (over 16 points). RESULTS: atopic diathesis (probable and clear) was confirmed in 70% of subjects in the atopic disease group, in 27.3% subjects with chronic urticaria, while in the healthy controls atopic diathesis was not registered (probable and clear).Statistical significance is present between atopic diseases group (15.4 +/- 3.6) and the rest of groups (8.8 +/- 3.9) according to the total score values in the questionnaire (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Atopic diathesis monitoring used in our study was proved as a good method for atopy recognition, that is confirmed statistically, as well. The score value was tested by the logistic regression, which enabled a possibility of atopic diseases prediction on the basis of the total score value from the questionnaire.

Frequency of standard and occupational contact allergens in Tuzla area, Bosnia and Herzegovina: retrospective study.

Allergic contact dermatitis is acute or chronic inflammatory skin disease of allergic etiology, which develops as a result of delayed type of hypersensitivity, i.e. type IV reaction according to the Gell and Coombs classification. In the retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of 495 patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis in the 1988-1998 period. The records were obtained from the Cabinet of Allergology of the Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Tuzla University Hospital Center. There were 312 women and 183 men, aged between 18 and 60 years. The patients were divided into 6 groups according to their occupation. Contact sensitization was established in 295 or 59.6% of them. The type and frequency of causative agent in allergic contact dermatitis depended on working environment. Potassium dichromate, a component part of cement, caused positive reaction in 48% of construction workers tested, which was significantly more than in the "other occupation" group, where 14.6% of patients showed positive reaction to potassium dichromate (p<0.001). Formaldehyde, used in leather processing, was the most frequent among the four leading allergens in the group of shoe workers (13.3%), whereas charcoal tar (used in the metal processing) was the most frequent allergen in the group of metal workers (13.9%). Nickel sulfate, potassium dichromate, cobalt chloride, and urushiol were frequent allergens in the "other occupation" group, housewives, and textile workers. The listed allergens are present at large in everyday life as well as in particular occupations.