Journal of

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Background and Aim: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common contagious infectious disease. Because of the current limited knowledge about the etiology of this disease and its associated complications, especially nails lesions, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of the nail disorders in children with HFMD.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 84 children whom were referred to Bo Ali Sina Hospital in Sari, in 2013 and 2014, and were diagnosed as HFMD, were recruited using a census sampling method. Diagnosis of HFMD was made by a dermatologist or a pediatrician based on the clinical findings. Then, the skin lesions were recorded and the nails of all HFMD patients were examined to detect any nail disorder (onychomadesis, transverse ridging, etc.). Nail examinations were repeated fortnightly up to 8 weeks after the first visit. During this follow-up period, through using a questionnaire, the type of the nail lesions and their relationship with HFMD were recorded.

Results: The mean±standard deviation (SD) age of the patients was 38.2±19.5 months, and 58.3% of the patients were male. At the time of HFMD diagnosis, 30 (35.7%) patients had hand and nail involvement. Thirty-one cases (36.9%) had toenails involvement. Onychomadesis frequency was higher 4 weeks after initiation of the disease in comparison with 2 weeks after the onset of illness (15.5% vs. 1.2%, P<0.001) and 6 weeks after the beginning of the disease compared to 4 weeks after the disease onset (29.8% vs. 15.5%, P=0.001) the frequency of nail involvement at 8 weeks after the disease onset compared to 6 weeks after the beginning of HFMD was decreased (17.9% vs. 29.8%, P=0.007).

Conclusion: It is necessary to take measures for early detection and treatment of involved nails in HFMD. Periodic follow-up visits is recommended too.

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Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) scholars have explained the structure and function of each organ based on clinical observations and past experiences. The skin is especially important due to apparent clinical manifestations serving as a convenient diagnosis tool. This study was aimed to evaluate the anatomy and physiology of the skin as presented in ITM School and compare with conventional medicine. Relevant keywords were searched in ITM reference books, Google scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. After extracting the data, the results were classified in terms of concepts and tables.

ITM scholars believe the embryonic origin of skin is similar to nervous tissue. In their view, the skin has a moderate temperament, and is a combination of fibers, nerve ends, muscles and vessels. Among the most important functions of the skin is the sense of touch, body temperature regulation, and excretion of wastes.

In conventional medicine, the skin consists of epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis layers. The embryonic origin of epidermis is the ectoderm. Protection and body temperature regulation, sensory activities, gas exchange, absorption of ultraviolet rays and disposal of excess body electrolytes are considered as the most important skin functions.

Overview of fetal origin, structure and function of the skin between these two schools of medicine interpreted in many ways, revealed many similarities.

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The skin is the largest organ of the human body, the first protective barrier of the body and one of the important excretory organs. In conventional medicine, there is great focus on skin rashes to help to diagnose the internal illnesses.  Persian medical scholars have also studied a wide range of internal disorders by examining skin manifestations. The aim of this study is to investigate the etiology and semiology of various skin rashes and manifestations from Persian and conventional medicine viewpoints, and to clarify similarities and differences between them. For this purpose data corresponding with key words was extracted from reference books and then relevant scientific databases including Google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and reliable sources like Janquira histology, Habif and Savin's dermatology books were examined. An overview of the cutaneous rash and diseases, revealed that in many cases, these two schools of medicine are not comparable. However, in some cases, such as etiology, description, clinical signs, diagnosis, etc., serious similarities in topic of rashes, skin manifestations and chronic diseases are mentioned  in the overview of this two medical schools.

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Urticaria is a relatively common skin disease characterized by red or white itchy and transient swellings. In more severe cases, it can reduce level of consciousness and be life-threatening due to swelling of tongue or throat and airway obstruction
In conventional medicine, this disease is treated symptomatic and mainly by antihistamines. Studies have indicated that urticaria is similar to "shara" (a type of skin disease mentioned in Persian medicine) in terms of etiology, description, clinical symptoms and diagnosis. In Persian medicine (Iranian traditional medicine) litrature, efficacy of several medicinal plants for the treatment of "shara" has been explaind.

This study is a review on the effective herbal remedies in the treatment of urticaria based on search in Iranian medicine resources, and conventional medicine litrature. Data were extracted from Iranian medicine textbooks and scientific databases including Google scholar, Pub Med, Web of Science and Scopus. It was found that Iranian medicine scholars have used 48 different medicinal plants to treat and reduce the complications of urticaria and the recent scientific studies have proven antiinflammatory, antioxidant and immune-regulating properties in 45 of these plants.