Body Mass Index in Children with Psoriasis

Abstract

Psoriasis in children can be caused or even exacerbated by emotional stress, β-hemolytic streptococcal infection of the pharynx and perianal region, Kawasaki’s disease, withdrawal of systemic corticosteroids, increase in body mass index (BMI). The World Health Organization defines overweight and obesity as a result of ectopic fat deposition that can lead to decline in health. Nowadays dermatologists focus more on the use of BMI to study progress in the treatment of psoriasis patients as obesity is considered to be an independent risk factor for psoriasis. In this article BMI in children with psoriasis aged 4-17 is analyzed. When assessing BMI, among 188 children 60% of them (113) were identified to have normal body mass index by their age. Increased BMI was reported in 66 children (35.11%), pre-obesity was reported in 51 children (27.13%) and extra 13 were observed to have class I obesity and 2 children – class II. The upward deviation of the average weight ranged between several and 25-30 kilograms in certain children. On average the exceedance of upper limits of the mean weight in children with increased BMI comprised 15.49 ± 1.53%. The subnormal weight was observed in 6 children and 3 were underweight. The above-average weight and average height – the most typical combination for increased BMI – was reported in 24 children. The above-average weight and height and the above-average weight combined with the mean height were observed in 18 and 12 children respectively