Study of pregnancy dermatoses in patients attending outpatient of B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy causes immense hormonal, vascular and immunologic changes affecting every organ system including skin. It can have a positive as well as a negative effect on the course of pre-existing skin diseases. Specific dermatoses of pregnancy constitute a heterogenous group of inflammatory dermatoses associated exclusively with pregnancy. Objectives: To study the spectrum and frequency of pregnancy dermatoses and to compare the clinico- epidemiological profile of non-specific dermatoses among pregnant versus non-pregnant women of reproductive age.Material and Methods: This descriptive hospital based study recruited 300 patients with skin lesions; the test group comprised 150 pregnant ladies while the control group comprised 150 non-pregnant female of reproductive age. Demographic characteristics, medical history, examination findings, and relevant investigation reports were noted and diagnosis established. The patients of test group were then classified into distinct subgroups of dermatoses and were compared with non-pregnant patients of control group. Results: Specific dermatoses of pregnancy was very common (41.33%) in our study among which Prurigo of pregnancy was the commonest (24%). Inflammatory lesions were predominant in pregnant group (57.33%, p=<0.001) whereas infectious diseases were predominant in the non-pregnants (44.67%). The demographic variables had no significant role in determining the distribution of any of the skin lesions in this study. Conclusion: Inflammatory lesions mostly specific dermatoses of pregnancy are found to be the commonest skin lesions among the pregnant ladies whereas infectious diseases are found to be comparable among pregnant and non pregnant ladies in our study.NJDVL Vol. 13, No. 1, 2015 Page: 38-44