Influence of climatic factors on the medical attentions of dermatologic diseases in a hospital of Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Significant associations have been described between climatic factors and human health, which can occur in dermatologic diseases too. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of the climatic factors on the medical attentions of dermatologic diseases in a general hospital in Lima (Peru). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational study which was carried out in a national hospital between January 2004 and December 2007. The diagnoses were classified according to the ICD-10 system. The climate information was provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration from USA(NOAA). RESULTS: 3 294 patients were included in the study, the average age was 35.4 ± 20.7 years old, and 53.2% were females. The "El Niño" phenomenon was associated with an increase in the prevalence of actinic keratosis (p=0.002), viral warts (p=0.001) and rosacea (p=0.014). The "La Niña" phenomenon was associated with a reduction in viral warts (p=0.026). Spring was associated with an increase of dermatitis (p=0.003), and summer was associated with an increase of benign neoplasms (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: The climatic variations influenced the occurrence of certain dermatologic diseases. The present study may represent an orientation guide to specialists and general practitioners identifying the most common dermatologic diagnoses and thus enabling better preparation to treat these cases in determined seasons of the year.

Influence of climatic factors on the medical attentions of dermatologic diseases in a hospital of Lima, Peru / Influência de fatores climáticos no tratamento médico de doenças dermatológicas em um hospital em Lima, Peru

BACKGROUND: Significant associations have been described between climatic factors and human health, which can occur in dermatologic diseases too. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of the climatic factors on the medical attentions of dermatologic diseases in a general hospital in Lima (Peru). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational study which was carried out in a national hospital between January 2004 and December 2007. The diagnoses were classified according to the ICD-10 system. The climate information was provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration from USA(NOAA). RESULTS: 3 294 patients were included in the study, the average age was 35.4 ± 20.7 years old, and 53.2 percent were females. The "El Niño" phenomenon was associated with an increase in the prevalence of actinic keratosis (p=0.002), viral warts (p=0.001) and rosacea (p=0.014). The "La Niña" phenomenon was associated with a reduction in viral warts (p=0.026). Spring was associated with an increase of dermatitis (p=0.003), and summer was associated with an increase of benign neoplasms (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: The climatic variations influenced the occurrence of certain dermatologic diseases. The present study may represent an orientation guide to specialists and general practitioners identifying the most common dermatologic diagnoses and thus enabling better preparation to treat these cases in determined seasons of the year.

FUNDAMENTO: Associações significativas entre fatores climáticos e saúde humana têm sido descritas, inclusive na área de Dermatologia. OBJETIVO: Determinar a influência de fatores climáticos no tratamento de doenças dermatológicas em um hospital em Lima (Peru). PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional realizado em um hospital em Lima entre janeiro de 2004 e dezembro de 2007. Os diagnósticos foram classificados de acordo com o sistema ICD-10. Informações climáticas foram fornecidas pela "National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration" (NOAA - USA). RESULTADOS: 3.294 pacientes participaram do estudo. A idade media foi 35.4 ± 20.7 anos e 53,2 por cento eram mulheres. O fenômeno "El Niño" foi associado a um aumento da prevalência de queratose actínica (p=0,002), verrugas virais (p=0,001) e rosácea (p=0,014). O fenômeno "La Niña" foi associado a diminuição das verrugas virais (p=0,026). A primavera foi associada a um aumento de dermatite (p=0,003) e o verão, a um aumento de tumores benignos (p=0,049). CONCLUSÃO: Variações climáticas influenciam o aparecimento de algumas doenças dermatológicas. O presente trabalho pode orientar especialistas e clínicos gerais por meio da identificação dos diagnósticos dermatológicos mais comuns e, consequentemente, prepará-los para tratar doenças sazonais.

Enfermedades dermatológicas en un servicio académico asistencial universitario de Lima-Perú, 2004-2007 / Skin diseases in a dermatology academic teaching division of Lima-Peru, 2004-2007

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la frecuencia de enfermedades dermatológicas en un Servicio de Dermatología Universitario de la ciudad de Lima. PACIENTES Y METODOS: Estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo, realizado en el Servicio Académico Asistencial de Dermatología de la UNMSM, durante enero del 2004 a diciembre 2007. Los diagnósticos fueron clasificados de acuerdo al CIE-10. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 3294 pacientes nuevos, el promedio de edad fue de 35.4 ± 20.7 años, el 53.35% de pacientes fueron mujeres. Por grupo de enfermedad, las dermatosis infecciosas fueron las más comunes (29.3%), seguidas por las dermatitis (17.7%), neoplasias benignas (9.9%) y enfermedades de los anexos de la piel (9.8%). Las principales dermatosis encontradas fueron las verrugas víricas (14.3%), vitíligo (6%), otros tumores benignos de la piel (5.3%) y acné (4.8%). CONCLUSIONES: Las enfermedades infecciosas y las dermatitis fueron los diagnósticos más comunes. Las universidades como centro de formación integral del médico deberían ofrecer servicios académicos asistenciales que le permitan realizar docencia y proyeccióna la comunidad.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency ofdermatological diseases at University Department of Dermatology of Lima. PATIENTSAND METHODS: Descriptive, observational and retrospective, performed at the Dermatology Academic Teaching Division of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, during January 2004 to December 2007. Diagnoses were classified according to ICD-10. RESULTS: A total of 3294 new patients, the mean age was 35.4 ± 20.7 years, 53.35% of patients were female. For group of disease, infectious dermatoses were more common (29.3%), following by dermatitis(17.7%), benign neoplasms (9.9%) and diseasesof skin appendages (9.8%). The main dermatoses found were viral warts (14.3%), vitiligo (6%), other benign skin tumors (5.3%) and acne(4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Infectious diseases and dermatitis were the most common diagnoses. The universities as centre of integral formation of physicians must provide academic assistance services that can deliver teaching and outreach to the community.

Enfermedad de Still en el Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo / Still's disease and adult still's disease at Dos de Mayo National Hospital

Objetivo: Determinar las características clínicas, epidemiológicas e histopatológicas de la Enfermedad de Still en el Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal que incluyó pacientes con Enfermedad de Still atendidos en el Servicio Académico Asistencial de Dermatología de la UNMSM (Sede Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo) desde marzo 1998 hasta julio del 2006 diagnosticados de acuerdo a los criterios de Yamaguchi. Resultados: Se presentaron 7 casos de Enfermedad de Still, tres de los cuales correspondieron a enfermedad de Still del adulto. Seis pacientes fueron mujeres y uno varón, la edad promedio fue de 24,7 +/- 15,2 años (12 a 53 años) y el tiempo de enfermedad promedio de 3,8 meses. Se encontraron lesiones maculopapulares eritematosas, cuya ubicación fue: abdomen, espalda y miembros inferiores (5 pacientes), miembros superiores (4 pacientes), tórax (3 pacientes) y el rostro (2 pacientes). Las lesiones fueron pruriginosas en 3 pacientes. El estudio histopatológico de piel demostró dermatitis perivascular superficial. Conclusiones: La Enfermedad de Still es una entidad clínica de presentación rara y con notorio compromiso sistémico y cutáneo.

Objective: To determine the histopathology, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the Still’s disease at Dos de Mayo National Hospital (HNDM). Patients and methods: Descriptive, retrospective and transversal study. Patients with Still’s disease were seen in the Dermatology teaching division of the San Marcos University (HNDM) from March 1998 to July 2006. Results: Seven patients with Still’s disease were diagnosed according to Yamaguchi criteria, 3 of them were adult-onset Still’s disease. Six patients were female and one male. The average age was 24,7 ± 15,2 years (12 to 53 years) and the average of disease duration average was 3,8 months. We found maculopapular and erythematosus lesions on the inferior abdomen, back and lower extremities (5 patients), upper extremities (4 patients), thorax (3 patients) and on the face (2 patients). The lesions were itchy in 3 patients. The histopathologic study of skin showed superficial perivascular dermatitis. Conclusions: Still´s disease is a clinical entity of rare presentation and with well-known systemic and cutaneous involvement.

Síndrome de Parry Romberg / Parry Romberg Syndrome

El síndrome de Parry Romberg es una entidad clínica que se caracteriza por una hemiatrofia facial progresiva que produce alteraciones estéticas, funcionales, psíquicas, sociales y en ocasiones de evolución fatal. Presentamos dos casos, el primero inicialmente diagnosticado con esclerodermia lineal a los 8 años de edad. La segunda inicial enfermedad a los 2 años con placa alopécica en región frontal. Los pacientes progresan a síndrome de Parry Romberg en dos años. En ambos se encontró hemiatrofia facial izquierda, epilepsia, hemiatrofia cerebral ipsilateral y en el segundo caso uveíttis, IgM y cultivo positivo para Borrelia sp. Los pacientes fallecieron por status epiléptico. La teoría de la alteración de la primera etapa de la embriogénesis podría explicar el compromiso de tejidos derivados de diferentes capas embrionarias, sin embargo se propone a la Borrelia como desencadenante para la rápida progresión de la enfermedad.

Parry Romberg syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by progressive facial hemiatrophy with aesthetic, functional sy chic an’, social alterations of occasional fatal outcome. We present two cases; the first was diagnosed of lineal scleroderma at 8 years old and the second with alopecic plaque in frontal region at 2 years old. They progressed to Parry Romberg syndrome in two years. In both we found left facial hemiatrophy, epilepsy, ipsilateral cerebral hemiatrophy; uveitis, IgM and positive culture of Borrelia in the second case.The patients died with epileptics status. The theory of alteration of first stage of embryogenesis may explain the compromise of tissues derived from different embryologic cap, nevertheless some propose infection with Borrelia as accelerator of the progression of the disease.