Nail alterations in 250 infant patients: a clinical study.

AIMS: To investigate the frequency and the nature of nail alterations in infants.

STUDY DESIGN: A total of 250 infant patients from newborn to 2 years of age were evaluated from the outpatient clinics of paediatrics and dermatology departments, Fatih University Hospital. The nail alterations were documented. The data were presented as percentages, and for categorical comparisons, Chi-squared or Fisher's Exact test were used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Of the 250 infant patients, nail alterations were seen in only 17 (6.8%). Most of the patients had toe nail involvement. In 12 of 17 (70.6%) infants, there was one type of nail alteration; in 4 of 17 (23.5%) infants, there was two type of nail alterations; and in 1 of 17 (5.9%) infants, there was three type of nail alterations. The most frequent diagnosis was onychoschizia in 6 of 17 (2.4%) and congenital hypertrophy of the lateral nail fold together with ingrown nail in 6 (2.4%) infants.

CONCLUSION: Because nail alterations could be a manifestation of systemic or dermatologic diseases in infants, fingernail and toenail examination should be a part of the paediatric dermatology examination.