Symptomatology Of Keloids In Africans

Abstract

The symptoms of keloids need to be well highlighted especially among African blacks. To outline the symptoms of keloids in Southwest Nigeria with a view to offering adequate treatment to patients by relieving these symptoms. A prospective study of 121 consecutive keloid patients managed in two teaching hospitals in Nigeria was done to assess the symptoms of keloids. Their demographics, site(s) of keloids; and symptoms associated with lesions associated with the lesions were documented. The commonest symptom among the 121 patients was cosmesis, (100.0%) followed by itching, in 35 (28.9%), and then pain in 32 (26.4%) patients, foul smell in 4 (3.3%), heaviness, 6 (5.0%), peppery sensation, 8(6.6%), discharge, 7 (13.5%), tenderness (experienced when keloids are touched intentionally or accidentally), 10 (19.3%), and burning sensation, 10 (19.3%). The chest has the most symptomatic lesions with 15 (28.8%) and 9 (17.3%) patients having painful and itching lesions respectively. Attention needs to be paid to treatment of keloid symptoms which may make life unbearable to patients in addition to overall treatments of these patients. This is in view of the fact that cure is difficult in these lesions.

Key words: Keloids, Symptomatology, Black African, Treatment.