KUWAIT CITY, Oct 25: The Secretary General of the Kuwait Dermatologists Association (KDA) Dr. Abeer Al-Bathali announced the preparation of a statistical registry to record the rates and statistics of skin diseases in the country. She stressed the importance of this registry in identifying the country’s location in terms of diseases and identifying appropriate means of prevention and treatment.

Dr. Bathali said this in a press statement to announce the conclusion of the Psoriasis Awareness Month event on October 29 with a scientific forum for primary healthcare doctors and dermatology specialists, to learn about how to deal with cases of psoriasis for children and pregnant women. She affirmed the continuation of the effectiveness of the national psoriasis awareness campaign during the period from October 3 to 29, which coincides with World Psoriasis Awareness Day. Dr. Al-Bathali said Kuwait Dermatologists Association organized about ten events to raise awareness about the disease, which began at Farwaniya Hospital and then moved to the Abdul Karim Al-Saeed Center, Jaber Hospital, Adan Hospital, Jahra Hospital, Salmiya Specialized Center, Asaad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center, the Avenues Mall, and finally the Dermatologists Forum. She invited the public to participate in the awareness day until October 28 at the Avenues Mall from 10 am to 10 pm so that their inquiries about the disease can be answered, with the participation of many doctors and specialists to provide guidance, advice and brochures related to the disease.

Dr. Al-Bathali explained that psoriasis affects 2 to 4 percent of people around the world, and in some countries its rate reaches 7 percent. It affects both males and females, and children as well at various age levels. However, it is more common among both sexes in middle age, in the group from 20 to 40 years. There are many types of psoriasis, but the most common among children is “plaque” psoriasis, followed by “guttate” psoriasis, and other types that appear in the form of red dots or irritated red spots with crusts, inflammation, or skin ulcers.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff