Factitial dermatitis in the hospital setting.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Diagnosis

Background:

• Factitial Dermatitis (FD) presents diagnostic challenges due to self-induced lesions and patient-reported history inconsistencies.
• Understanding FD's clinical presentation is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical presentation patterns of Factitial Dermatitis in a hospital cohort.
• To identify characteristics that may aid in the diagnosis of FD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted using an inpatient consultation database from 2012-2017.
• Patients with a dermatologic ICD discharge diagnosis were identified, and case notes were reviewed to meet the FD case definition.
• A cohort of 32 FD patients was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Factitial Dermatitis cases were significantly more prevalent in the female population.
• Lesions commonly affected the upper extremities.
• Secondary skin changes like erosions and ulcers were frequent, often without primary morphologies.

Conclusions:

• Identifying patterns in FD presentation, such as female predominance and specific lesion locations, can reduce diagnostic delays.
• Improved understanding of FD presentation can optimize hospital resource allocation and enhance patient care.