Trends in Dermatological Diagnoses During Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quickly became a pandemic causing a global concern affecting public health directly and indirectly. Dermatology outpatient services were not an exception to the impact of COVID-19, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. To the best of our knowledge, no similar study has been done in this region, and identifying patterns of dermatological diseases would help prepare adequately for future crises. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the changes in diagnostic patterns at the dermatology clinic before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on dermatology outpatients seen at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. Diagnoses were compared during the pandemic (March to August 2020) with the corresponding period of the previous year. RESULTS: A total of 534 patients with 559 diagnoses were included. The average weekly dermatology clinic visits remained unchanged during the pandemic, although there was a 25.8% reduction in dermatology outpatients. The most common reasons for visiting the outpatient clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic were acne vulgaris, scabies, atopic dermatitis, dermatophytosis, and pityriasis versicolor. While the percentage of scabies significantly decreased during the pandemic; the percentage of allergic contact dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, candidiasis, hemangioma, and lupus erythematosus increased respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the COVID-19 pandemic had a negligible impact on the average weekly number of skin clinic visits, it caused a change in diagnostic patterns. Understanding the pattern of skin diagnoses may help hospitals better prepare for future pandemics.

INTRODUCTION: La maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) est rapidement devenue une pandémie suscitant une préoccupation mondiale, affectant directement et indirectement la santé publique. Les services ambulatoires de dermatologie n'ont pas échappé à l'impact du COVID-19, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. À notre connaissance, aucune étude similaire n'a été réalisée dans cette région, et l'identification des tendances des maladies dermatologiques permettrait de se préparer adéquatement pour les crises futures. OBJECTIF: Cette étude a examiné les changements dans les tendances diagnostiques à la clinique de dermatologie avant et pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. MÉTHODES: Cette étude rétrospective a été menée sur des patients ambulatoires de dermatologie vus à l'hôpital universitaire d'enseignement Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nnewi, au Nigeria. Les diagnostics ont été comparés pendant la pandémie (mars à août 2020) avec la période correspondante de l'année précédente. RÉSULTATS: Un total de 534 patients avec 559 diagnostics ont été inclus. Le nombre moyen de consultations hebdomadaires à la clinique de dermatologie est resté inchangé pendant la pandémie, bien qu'il y ait eu une réduction de 25,8 % des patients ambulatoires de dermatologie. Les raisons les plus courantes de consulter la clinique ambulatoire pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 étaient l'acné vulgaire, la gale, la dermatite atopique, la dermatophytose et le pityriasis versicolor. Alors que le pourcentage de gale a diminué de manière significative pendant la pandémie, le pourcentage de dermatite de contact allergique, de prurigo nodulaire, de candidose, d'hémangiome et de lupus érythémateux a augmenté respectivement. CONCLUSION: Bien que la pandémie de COVID-19 ait eu un impact négligeable sur le nombre moyen hebdomadaire de consultations à la clinique de dermatologie, elle a entraîné un changement dans les tendances diagnostiques. Comprendre les tendances des diagnostics de peau peut aider les hôpitaux à mieux se préparer pour les futures pandémies. MOTS CLÉS: COVID-19, patients ambulatoires de dermatologie, diagnostics dermatologiques, Afrique de l'Ouest, Nigeria, tendances.

Guidelines for clinical trials of frontal fibrosing alopecia: consensus recommendations from the International FFA Cooperative Group (IFFACG).

BACKGROUND: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) has become one of the most common causes of cicatricial alopecia worldwide. However, there is a lack of clear aetiology and robust clinical trial evidence for the efficacy and safety of agents currently used for treatment. OBJECTIVES: To enable data to be collected worldwide on FFA using common criteria and assessment methods. METHODS: A multicentre, international group of experts in hair loss was convened by email to create consensus recommendations for clinical trials. Consensus was defined at > 90% agreement on each recommended part of these guidelines. RESULTS: Standardized diagnostic criteria, severity rating, staging, and investigator and patient assessment of scalp hair loss and other clinical features of FFA were created. CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines should allow the collection of reliable aggregate data on FFA and advance efforts in both clinical and basic research to close knowledge gaps in this condition.