Epidemiology of Psoriasis in a Clinic From North India

Abstract

Clinical and epidemiological data on 782 patients of psoriasis collected from a clinic in north India is presented. Psoriatics accounted for 1.4% of the total dermatology out-patients. There was a male preponderance. Three fourths of the patients had over 50% involvement of the skin surface. Severity of the disease was same in both sexes. Plaque type disease was commonest in over 90%. Family history of psoriasis was present in 7.40/o-, the age of onset was significantly lower in them as compared to the patients without family history. More than half of the' patients did not experience any seasonal variation. Scalp was the first site of involvement followed by legs and arms. Nails, joints and mucosal involvement were seen in 62.2, 9.7 and 2.3% patients respectively. Pruritus was experienced by 63.5% patients.