Prevalence, morbidity of psoriasis increasing in India: PGI doc

The Dermatology Department of PGI reveals that psoriasis accounts for 2.3 per cent of the total dermatology outpatients at the department.

Mean age of onset was lower in women, at 27.6 years, although the severity of the disease was the same in both sexes.

October 29 is marked as the World Psoriasis Day. Dr Sunil Dogra, associate professor of Dermatology at PGI said that the prevalence and morbidity of psoriasis has been steadily increasing in India due to the modern stressful life style, lack of adequate physical activities and associated risk of metabolic syndrome.

Till date, more than twelve thousand patients of psoriasis have been registered in the clinic at PGI. Analysis of data from the department reveals that plaque type disease was the most common, seen in over 93 per cent of the patients.

The scalp was the first site of onset in 25.2 per cent. Nail and joint involvement were seen in 55.7 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively. Complete remission of disease activity was experienced by 35 per cent of the patients mostly during summer in the course of their disease.

In a study of 419 children seen at the Psoriasis Clinic of PGI over a period of 13 years, there were 219 boys and 200 girls.

The age of onset ranges from 4 days to 14 years. A positive family history was present in only 4.5 per cent of the patients who were surveyed. The extensors of the legs were the most common initial site affected, followed by the scalp. Itching was the most frequent symptom reported by children.

PGIMER has evolved a systemic methotrexate regimen in psoriasis which is followed all over the world. Phototherapy of psoriasis was for the first time was started at this institute in northern India.

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