Clinicoetiological study of palmoplantar dermatoses in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineBackground newlinePalmoplantar dermatoses include specific skin newlinediseases affecting palms and soles and are frequently newlineencountered dermatoses in the dermatology practice. Apart newlinefrom diagnostic difficulties, few palmoplantar dermatoses newlinecause great discomfort and disability, and may also affect a newlineperson s livelihood. Many previous studies have focused on newlinethe specific diseases of palmoplantar dermatoses. However, newlinenone of them have included a comprehensive study of newlinepalmoplantar dermatoses. newlineAim: newlineTo study the epidemiological aspects like age newlinedistribution, sex distribution, and the clinical profile of newlinepatients suffering from palmoplantar dermatoses and the newlinefrequency of involvement of palms, soles or both palms and newlinesoles, among the patients attending a tertiary health car e newlinecentre. newlineMethodology: newlineA cross sectional observational study was conducted newlinefor a period of one year at the Dermatology department of newlineSaveetha Medical college and Hospital. Patients selected newlineare those attending the Department of Dermatology, newlineVenereology and Leprosy at Saveetha Medical College and newlineHospital, primarily with complaints pertaining to palms and newlinesoles, with or without other body part involvement, above newline18 years of age, irrespective of sex and immune status and newlinewho are willing to participate in the study. newlineA total of 200 patients were taken as our study newlinesubjects. The study was started after getting the newlineinstitutional ethical clearance and informed consent was newlineobtained from all the study subjects involved in the study. newlineA detailed history of cutaneous complaints, present newlineand past medical ailments was taken. Complete general newlinephysical and systemic examination was carried out. newlineDetailed dermatological examination was done and all newlinefindings were noted in a pre-designed proforma. Routine newlineblood haemoglobin, complete blood counts, urine routine newlineexamination, blood sugar estimation was carried out newlinewhenever it was necessary. Skin scrapings, wood s lamp newlineexamination, patch testing, Tzanck smear and skin biopsy newlinewere done