Dermatológia pre prax 2-3/2013

Psoriasis in childhood

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory hyperproliferative disease of the skin, scalp, nails and joints. Psoriasis is a papulosquamosus skin disorder with a variety of clinical presentations. Guttate psoriasis, plaque psoriasis and flexural psoriasis are the most common types at children. In a small percentage joint involvement or nail changes can be present. Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease caused by the concerted action of multiple genetic genes in a single individual, triggered by enviromental factors. The treatment is mostly similar with that at adults. Basic treatment options are calcipotriol, topical corticosteroids, tar, ditranol, in severe cases sometimes acitretin or UVB treatment are necessary. The most severe cases are managed by cyclosporin A, azathioprine, methotrexate or by a biologic agent etanercept.

Keywords: psoriasis, aethiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment.