Psoriasis in children with dark skin phototypes: Epidemiological and clinical profile in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Context Psoriasis is a rare chronic erythematosquamous dermatosis, accounting for ∼5% of pediatric dermatological conditions. Aims This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of psoriasis in children at the dermatology and venereology department of CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo. Patients and methods This retrospective descriptive cross–sectional study spanned 10 years and included all patients aged 0–15 years who had been diagnosed with psoriasis, provided their clinical records contained all relevant variables. Results Among 3,220 patients aged 0–15 years, nine were diagnosed with psoriasis, resulting in a prevalence of 0.051% within the department. There was a predominance of females, with a sex ratio of 0.5. The average age of onset for the patients was 6.89 years. Stress was identified as a trigger for flare-ups in five patients. Plaque psoriasis was the most common clinical presentation, observed in eight patients, with scalp involvement noted in seven. One case of psoriatic arthropathy was recorded. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was mild in three cases and moderate in two. Conclusion Psoriasis is relatively uncommon in children within our population, with a higher prevalence among females. Stress frequently acts as a trigger for flare-ups, and the diagnosis was primarily clinical. The plaque form, which was commonly observed, is consistent with findings from other studies, particularly regarding scalp involvement. Severe cases were infrequent.