Vesiculobullous diseases in patients under the age of 18-A Retrospective study in a group of Iranian

  Vesiculobullous diseases (VBDs) are a category of disorders resulting from the production of antibodies against the connection of epithelial cells to each other and the underlying connective tissues. The prevalence of these diseases in individuals under 18 years old is significantly lower than in adults, and limited studies have specifically addressed the frequency of these lesions in this age group. This study aims to assess the prevalence of VBDs in patients under the age of 18 at Shahid Beheshti Dental School and Razi Hospital in Tehran from 2010 to 2020 based on age, gender, location of involvement, clinical diagnosis, and histopathology.

 A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed based on the available data in the archives of Shahid Beheshti Dental School and Razi Hospital from 2010 to 2020.

 A total of 2021 cases of VBD were identified, with 29 cases (1.45%) observed in individuals under the age of 18. Lesions showed a slight preference for females, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.23. Adolescents (13-18 years old) were the most affected age group (51.72%). The combination of lesions on the trunk and oral cavity was the most common combination observed in this study (44.82%). Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) (27.58%) was the most prevalent type of VBD, followed by erythema multiforme (EM) (24.13%), epidermolysis bullosa (EB) (20.68%), and bullous pemphigoid (BP) (17.23%).

 In summary, PV was the most common type of VBD in our study region, predominantly affecting females. EM and EB had the highest frequencies, with EB being the most common lesion in the birth to 5 years age group. BP had a lower prevalence in these age groups compared to the general population.