Manifestaciones cutáneas como diagnóstico inicial de enfermedades autoinmunes del tejido conectivo, Hospital del Niño Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, período 2018 – 2022.

Abstract

The skin, being the most extensive and exposed organ of the body, is frequently affected in autoimmune connective tissue diseases. The dermatoses associated with these diseases are very heterogeneous, especially those located in photoexposed areas and their association with systemic symptomatology should be considered; skin manifestations in these pathologies are common and sometimes fundamental in the suspicion and timely diagnosis. This study is framed in a retrospective observational design, by means of a detailed analysis of the medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with autoimmune connective tissue diseases. The period of analysis comprised the years between 2018 and 2022, during which an exhaustive follow-up of the cases attended at Hospital Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante was carried out; specifically, it focused on examining the cutaneous manifestations associated with these diseases, describing their prevalence, demographic distribution, and possible trends over time. The results obtained revealed a notable increase in the number of cases during the year 2020, followed by a decrease in the years 2021 and 2022. This suggests possible influences of external factors or changes in access to medical care that could be affecting the detection and diagnosis of these diseases in the pediatric population. A significant association was found between the presence of connective tissue disease with age and dermatologic diagnoses; the adolescent age group had a significant risk for connective tissue disease with a prominent incidence in the group of children aged 10-14 years during 2018 and 2019. This finding highlights the importance of considering age as a relevant factor in the presentation and management of autoimmune connective tissue diseases in the pediatric population. Additionally, the close relationship between dermatoses and connectivopathies is evidenced, particularly with regard to exanthema/erythema in photoexposed areas, recommending routine rheumatologic evaluation for early detection of connectivopathies.