Related abstracts

Laser treatment of vascular birthmarks.

Alster TS, Railan D.
J Craniofac Surg 2006;17(4):720–3.

Laser treatment of vascular birthmarks remains one of the more common applications of dermatologic lasers and is the treatment of choice for port-wine stains (PWS) and superficial capillary hemangiomas. Before the development of laser technology, these lesions were treated with radiation, surgical excision and grafting, cryosurgery, and camouflage with cosmetics or tattoos. All of these techniques produced unsatisfactory results or poor aesthetic outcomes. The development of the pulsed dye laser in the 1980s permitted selective photocoagulation and destruction of lesional blood vessels without damage to the surrounding normal skin, thereby producing dramatic clearing of PWS and hemangiomas with minimal risk of scarring.

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Perianal infectious dermatitis: An underdiagnosed, unremitting and stubborn condition.

Serban ED.
World J Clin Pediatr 2018;7(4):89–104.

Perianal infectious dermatitis (PID) represents a superficial inflammation of the perianal skin, which is of bacterial origin (classically, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci). This narrative review aims to critically review and summarize the available scientific literature regarding pediatric PID, being the first of its kind, to the best of the author's knowledge. It also reports the first cases of Romanian children with PID. Multiple databases were subjected to systematic literature search (from 1966 to April 30, 2018) to identify studies and case reports of children with PID. As such, this review provides updated information about essential aspects of PID (epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, as well as clinical features, required investigations and therapeutic options) and of diagnostic pitfalls. Although a well-defined entity, PID remains largely underdiagnosed. PID may mimic other common conditions with skin manifestations (like candidiasis, pinworms, eczema, irritant dermatitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, zinc deficiency dermatosis and even sexual abuse), with consequent unnecessary, sometimes expensive and invasive investigations and futile therapies, which cause patients and families discomfort and distress. Since PID has an unremitting course, early recognition is imperative, as it allows for prompt and efficacious antibiotic therapy. However, PID represents a stubborn condition and, even if properly treated, its recurrence rate remains high. Further well-designed prospective randomized controlled trials, with adequate follow-up, are required in order to formulate the optimum personalized antibiotic therapy (oral alone or in association with topical medication), able to prevent recurrences. Awareness of this condition by healthcare professionals should improve patient outcomes.

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