AN ASSESSMENT OF PALMAR DERMATOSES OCCURRING ABOVE 18 YEARS OF AGE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: To stratify and describe the distribution of dermatoses occurring on the palms in patients attending Dermatology OPD

Methods: A total of 50 patients with palmar lesions were subjected to full history taking and thorough dermatological examination and photographs were taken.

Results: Among 50 patients, 26 (52%) were males and 24 (48%) were females. 22 patients (44%) were in ages 18 to 30 years, 16 (32%) were between 31 and 45 years, 9 (18%) were 46 to 60 years age group and 3 patients (6%) were above 61 years of age. 28% (14 patients ) were students, 20% (10 patients ) were housewives, occupations such as bank employees, software professionals constituted 12% (6 patients), other skilled work such as tailors, cooks, drivers consisted 12% (6 patients) and farmers were 6 in number (12%), other unskilled labour such as masons, grocery clerks were 10% (5 patients, 3 patients (6%) were unemployed. Palmoplantar psoriasis seen in 14 patients (28%), pustular psoriasis in 2 (4%), palmar warts and chronic cumulative irritant dermatitis in 6 patients each (12%), keratolysis exfoliativa, candidiasis and hyperhidrosis were seen in 3 patients each (6%), pompholyx and dermatophytosis was seen in 2 patients each (4%), and 1 case (2%) each of vitiligo, erythema multiforme , PPK and fingertip eczema were seen. 26% (13) had involvement of soles.

Conclusion: In our study, males were more commonly affected than females, most common age group presented were between ages 18 and 30, most common occupation came across were students followed by housewives. Most common dermatoses observed was palmoplantar psoriasis and soles were involved in close to one-third of patients in the study.