Don't Rush Psoriasis Diagnosis in Children

MIAMI BEACH – A diagnosis of pediatric psoriasis is a major event for a child and their family – especially given the long-term medical and psychosocial implications – so proceed cautiously, said Dr. Ronald C. Hansen.

"I am never in a big hurry to make the diagnosis of psoriasis if I am not sure. When you make the diagnosis, you are pretty much saying: ‘You are going to have some degree of psoriasis the rest of your life," Dr. Hansen said at the South Beach Symposium.

And, "I never ever underestimate the impact of psoriasis on the child’s life," he said. "I’ve had 5-year-olds already psychologically stricken."

Affected children – particularly those with more severe disease – will be self-conscious and avoid undressing before gym class or joining others to swim at a pool, said Dr. Hansen, chief of pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. "These kids end up loathing their bodies." Psoriasis often has long-term impacts on relationships and intimacy as well.

"The psychosocial impacts ... are immense," agreed session moderator Dr. Lawrence A. Schachner. Because of this, consider whether your patient needs psychosocial counseling when you diagnose psoriasis, added Dr. Schachner, who is director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Miami.

Pediatric psoriasis impacts the whole family. Counsel parents that psoriasis will require a long-term commitment to provide care for their child.

The onset of childhood psoriasis can occur at any age, even at birth. "It is genetically loaded," Dr. Hansen said.

For example, a child born to unaffected parents has about a 4% chance of developing psoriasis, he said. In contrast, a child born to one parent with psoriasis has a 28% likelihood of also developing psoriasis, and if both parents are affected, it jumps to 65%. The chances are even greater if the child has a sibling with psoriasis.

A clinical tip is to ask parents about a history of diaper dermatitis. In his experience, when Dr. Hansen suspects childhood psoriasis, he asks families about whether the child has had difficult diaper rashes. "The parents roll their eyes and say, ‘Yes, diaper rashes from hell.’ This is one of the things I hear routinely when I make the diagnosis in a 4-year-old."

Umbilical and scalp involvement often suggest psoriasis. Severe seborrheic dermatitis, for example, is another diagnostic clue. "We all know about the flaky, persistent scalp dermatitis, sometimes misdiagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis, but again it’s the seborrheic dermatitis from hell. It doesn’t respond to usual treatments," he said.

Even with a rash that looks like psoriasis, most children will have something else: seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, or a candidal infection. "If it’s the first time I see this rash, I don’t make the diagnosis of psoriasis. ... Maybe about 20% of them will end up with psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said.

In contrast to adults with psoriasis, pediatric patients can present with prominent, full facial involvement. Flexural involvement is common in all ages, and the lesions can be thick and white or erythematous.

Be particularly thorough with your differential diagnosis of annular psoriasis. "The annular form can fool us. There are a lot of things that cause rings," Dr. Hansen said. A misdiagnosis of extensive tinea can occur, for example.

Some children with psoriasis can have extensive nail involvement. But "nail pits typify psoriasis. ... You can only use nail pits as a diagnostic [criterion] for psoriasis if the cuticle and proximal nail fold are intact," he said.

Pustular psoriasis is rare but important to diagnose in children, Dr. Hansen said. "These patients can be physically quite ill, and treatment has to be instituted right away."

Acute generalized pustular psoriasis is a severe form. Patients can present with fevers, polyarthritis, alopecia, cholestatic jaundice, acute respiratory distress syndrome, eye complications, conjunctivitis, and other adverse signs and comorbidities. "These kids tend to be medical emergencies," Dr. Hansen said. "Consider hospitalization if they have fever."

Many potential factors can elicit this condition. Acute generalized pustular psoriasis can be triggered by an upper respiratory infection or urinary tract infection. "Infections can open the door to anyone already predisposed to get psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said. Withdrawal from systemic or topical steroids and sunburn are other triggers. "Interestingly enough, the [tumor necrosis factor] antagonists which we use to treat psoriasis can also precipitate generalized pustular psoriasis. This confuses most people," he said.

Dr. Hansen disclosed that is a researcher for Novartis. Dr. Schachner disclosed that he is a consultant for Beiersdorf and a researcher/investigator for Astellas, Ferndale, Novartis, Organogenesis, and Stiefel. Both receive royalties from Elsevier, which also owns this news organization.

MIAMI BEACH – A diagnosis of pediatric psoriasis is a major event for a child and their family – especially given the long-term medical and psychosocial implications – so proceed cautiously, said Dr. Ronald C. Hansen.

"I am never in a big hurry to make the diagnosis of psoriasis if I am not sure. When you make the diagnosis, you are pretty much saying: ‘You are going to have some degree of psoriasis the rest of your life," Dr. Hansen said at the South Beach Symposium.

And, "I never ever underestimate the impact of psoriasis on the child’s life," he said. "I’ve had 5-year-olds already psychologically stricken."

Affected children – particularly those with more severe disease – will be self-conscious and avoid undressing before gym class or joining others to swim at a pool, said Dr. Hansen, chief of pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. "These kids end up loathing their bodies." Psoriasis often has long-term impacts on relationships and intimacy as well.

"The psychosocial impacts ... are immense," agreed session moderator Dr. Lawrence A. Schachner. Because of this, consider whether your patient needs psychosocial counseling when you diagnose psoriasis, added Dr. Schachner, who is director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Miami.

Pediatric psoriasis impacts the whole family. Counsel parents that psoriasis will require a long-term commitment to provide care for their child.

The onset of childhood psoriasis can occur at any age, even at birth. "It is genetically loaded," Dr. Hansen said.

For example, a child born to unaffected parents has about a 4% chance of developing psoriasis, he said. In contrast, a child born to one parent with psoriasis has a 28% likelihood of also developing psoriasis, and if both parents are affected, it jumps to 65%. The chances are even greater if the child has a sibling with psoriasis.

A clinical tip is to ask parents about a history of diaper dermatitis. In his experience, when Dr. Hansen suspects childhood psoriasis, he asks families about whether the child has had difficult diaper rashes. "The parents roll their eyes and say, ‘Yes, diaper rashes from hell.’ This is one of the things I hear routinely when I make the diagnosis in a 4-year-old."

Umbilical and scalp involvement often suggest psoriasis. Severe seborrheic dermatitis, for example, is another diagnostic clue. "We all know about the flaky, persistent scalp dermatitis, sometimes misdiagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis, but again it’s the seborrheic dermatitis from hell. It doesn’t respond to usual treatments," he said.

Even with a rash that looks like psoriasis, most children will have something else: seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, or a candidal infection. "If it’s the first time I see this rash, I don’t make the diagnosis of psoriasis. ... Maybe about 20% of them will end up with psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said.

In contrast to adults with psoriasis, pediatric patients can present with prominent, full facial involvement. Flexural involvement is common in all ages, and the lesions can be thick and white or erythematous.

Be particularly thorough with your differential diagnosis of annular psoriasis. "The annular form can fool us. There are a lot of things that cause rings," Dr. Hansen said. A misdiagnosis of extensive tinea can occur, for example.

Some children with psoriasis can have extensive nail involvement. But "nail pits typify psoriasis. ... You can only use nail pits as a diagnostic [criterion] for psoriasis if the cuticle and proximal nail fold are intact," he said.

Pustular psoriasis is rare but important to diagnose in children, Dr. Hansen said. "These patients can be physically quite ill, and treatment has to be instituted right away."

Acute generalized pustular psoriasis is a severe form. Patients can present with fevers, polyarthritis, alopecia, cholestatic jaundice, acute respiratory distress syndrome, eye complications, conjunctivitis, and other adverse signs and comorbidities. "These kids tend to be medical emergencies," Dr. Hansen said. "Consider hospitalization if they have fever."

Many potential factors can elicit this condition. Acute generalized pustular psoriasis can be triggered by an upper respiratory infection or urinary tract infection. "Infections can open the door to anyone already predisposed to get psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said. Withdrawal from systemic or topical steroids and sunburn are other triggers. "Interestingly enough, the [tumor necrosis factor] antagonists which we use to treat psoriasis can also precipitate generalized pustular psoriasis. This confuses most people," he said.

Dr. Hansen disclosed that is a researcher for Novartis. Dr. Schachner disclosed that he is a consultant for Beiersdorf and a researcher/investigator for Astellas, Ferndale, Novartis, Organogenesis, and Stiefel. Both receive royalties from Elsevier, which also owns this news organization.

MIAMI BEACH – A diagnosis of pediatric psoriasis is a major event for a child and their family – especially given the long-term medical and psychosocial implications – so proceed cautiously, said Dr. Ronald C. Hansen.

"I am never in a big hurry to make the diagnosis of psoriasis if I am not sure. When you make the diagnosis, you are pretty much saying: ‘You are going to have some degree of psoriasis the rest of your life," Dr. Hansen said at the South Beach Symposium.

And, "I never ever underestimate the impact of psoriasis on the child’s life," he said. "I’ve had 5-year-olds already psychologically stricken."

Affected children – particularly those with more severe disease – will be self-conscious and avoid undressing before gym class or joining others to swim at a pool, said Dr. Hansen, chief of pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. "These kids end up loathing their bodies." Psoriasis often has long-term impacts on relationships and intimacy as well.

"The psychosocial impacts ... are immense," agreed session moderator Dr. Lawrence A. Schachner. Because of this, consider whether your patient needs psychosocial counseling when you diagnose psoriasis, added Dr. Schachner, who is director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Miami.

Pediatric psoriasis impacts the whole family. Counsel parents that psoriasis will require a long-term commitment to provide care for their child.

The onset of childhood psoriasis can occur at any age, even at birth. "It is genetically loaded," Dr. Hansen said.

For example, a child born to unaffected parents has about a 4% chance of developing psoriasis, he said. In contrast, a child born to one parent with psoriasis has a 28% likelihood of also developing psoriasis, and if both parents are affected, it jumps to 65%. The chances are even greater if the child has a sibling with psoriasis.

A clinical tip is to ask parents about a history of diaper dermatitis. In his experience, when Dr. Hansen suspects childhood psoriasis, he asks families about whether the child has had difficult diaper rashes. "The parents roll their eyes and say, ‘Yes, diaper rashes from hell.’ This is one of the things I hear routinely when I make the diagnosis in a 4-year-old."

Umbilical and scalp involvement often suggest psoriasis. Severe seborrheic dermatitis, for example, is another diagnostic clue. "We all know about the flaky, persistent scalp dermatitis, sometimes misdiagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis, but again it’s the seborrheic dermatitis from hell. It doesn’t respond to usual treatments," he said.

Even with a rash that looks like psoriasis, most children will have something else: seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, or a candidal infection. "If it’s the first time I see this rash, I don’t make the diagnosis of psoriasis. ... Maybe about 20% of them will end up with psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said.

In contrast to adults with psoriasis, pediatric patients can present with prominent, full facial involvement. Flexural involvement is common in all ages, and the lesions can be thick and white or erythematous.

Be particularly thorough with your differential diagnosis of annular psoriasis. "The annular form can fool us. There are a lot of things that cause rings," Dr. Hansen said. A misdiagnosis of extensive tinea can occur, for example.

Some children with psoriasis can have extensive nail involvement. But "nail pits typify psoriasis. ... You can only use nail pits as a diagnostic [criterion] for psoriasis if the cuticle and proximal nail fold are intact," he said.

Pustular psoriasis is rare but important to diagnose in children, Dr. Hansen said. "These patients can be physically quite ill, and treatment has to be instituted right away."

Acute generalized pustular psoriasis is a severe form. Patients can present with fevers, polyarthritis, alopecia, cholestatic jaundice, acute respiratory distress syndrome, eye complications, conjunctivitis, and other adverse signs and comorbidities. "These kids tend to be medical emergencies," Dr. Hansen said. "Consider hospitalization if they have fever."

Many potential factors can elicit this condition. Acute generalized pustular psoriasis can be triggered by an upper respiratory infection or urinary tract infection. "Infections can open the door to anyone already predisposed to get psoriasis," Dr. Hansen said. Withdrawal from systemic or topical steroids and sunburn are other triggers. "Interestingly enough, the [tumor necrosis factor] antagonists which we use to treat psoriasis can also precipitate generalized pustular psoriasis. This confuses most people," he said.

Dr. Hansen disclosed that is a researcher for Novartis. Dr. Schachner disclosed that he is a consultant for Beiersdorf and a researcher/investigator for Astellas, Ferndale, Novartis, Organogenesis, and Stiefel. Both receive royalties from Elsevier, which also owns this news organization.