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Introduction: The modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scale is accepted as a useful clinical scoring system in the evaluation of hirsutism. Aim: To prevent overlooking hirsutism diagnoses and facilitate patient examinations in ongoing pandemic conditions by simplifying the mFG score. Material and methods: This study included 227 patients who were diagnosed with hirsutism and had mFG scores of ≥ 8. Hair distribution and hair growth intensity of nine different body regions in the mFG score were examined. Results: Among our patients with hirsutism, terminal hair was present on the chin in 97.4% (n = 221), thighs in 96.5% (n = 219), upper lip in 94.7% (n = 215), and lower abdomen in 92.1% (n = 205), and this was significantly higher compared with the remaining five regions (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Terminal hair growth scored as ≥ 1 was found in 89% of the patients (n = 202) for the combination of the chin, thighs, and upper lip, and in 87.2% (n = 198) for the combination of the chin, thighs, and lower abdomen. When the chin and thighs were evaluated together, 75.3% (n = 171) of the patients had ≥ 2 terminal hair growth. Conclusions: In addition to the chin and thighs being the main regions of terminal hair growth, examination of the upper lip or lower abdomen can sufficiently help predict hirsutism. During the ongoing pandemic conditions when we need to follow social distancing rules, a practical approach to the mFG scoring system will facilitate the work of many physicians, including dermatologists, and will shorten the patient's stay in the clinic.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. During the partial curfews implemented in the pandemic period, the pediatric patients presenting to the dermatology clinic of our hospital were examined taking the necessary precautions. We aimed to identify children and adolescent cases requiring dermatology services and their urgency when the number of COVID-19 cases was rapidly increasing and partial curfews were being imposed in Turkey. METHODS: The study was conducted with pediatric patients that presented to our hospital dermatology outpatient clinic, a tertiary health care institution between March 11, 2020, and May 29, 2020, and their differences according to age groups and presentation period were evaluated. RESULTS: The most common reason for a dermatology clinic visit was acneiform diseases (n=103, 33.3%). According to age groups, the most common diagnosis was eczema diseases in both the 0-2 and 3-6 years groups (n=10 [55.6%] and n=11 [47.8%]), respectively), infectious diseases in the 7-12 years group (n=19, 31.10%), and acneiform diseases in the 13-18 years group (n=100, 48.3%). While 144 patients visited the clinic within the first 15 days after the declaration of pandemic, the number of patients presenting in the following month decreased by more than 80% (n=23 for the second 15-day period and n=14 for the third 15-day period). There was a moderate increase in the number of pediatric dermatology patients 45 days after the declaration of pandemic (n=57 for the fourth 15-day period and n=71 for the fifth 15-day period). A correlation was observed between the number of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Turkey and the number of pediatric patients presenting to our outpatient clinic. CONCLUSION: Considering that non-urgent and follow-up pediatric patients continue to present to dermatology outpatient clinics during the pandemic process, it is necessary to encourage the implementation of patient care methods, such as telemedicine in hospitals as part of the health system.
