Prevalência e natureza de onicodistrofias em crianças de uma escola pública de Juiz de Fora

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Changes in the clinical examination of the nails are frequent in adults and rarer in children. There are few studies investigating the frequency and nature of nail alterations in infant patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and nature of onychodistrophies in schoolchildren and to identify which are the most prevalent. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2011 to March 2012. One hundred and seventy-seven children have been examined, aged 7-10 years, from a public school of Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil. The alterations were recorded by photographs. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS, 15.0. RESULTS: At least one type of change in one of the nails of 91 children (51.4%) was detected. The nails of the toes were more affected (32.2%) than in the hands (24.9%). A greater variety of nail changes in the feet was also observed. Most changes were noted among male children than among females. The percentage of changes found in the group of melanodermic individuals was greater than in the other groups of colored skin. Leukonychia was the most frequent clinical sign found in fingernails, while the group "onychodistrophies caused by trauma" was the most frequent change in the toenails. In these, the melanonychia was also a frequent clinical sign. The habit of nail biting (onychophagy) was reported by 34 students (19.2%). CONCLUSION: The findings show a significant prevalence of alterations in the examination of the nails. Therefore, it is recommended that the inspection of the nails of the hands and feet takes part of pediatric dermatological clinical examination.