Incidence of pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy in women referred to two antenatal clinics of Shiraz from October 1999 to October 2000

Background: Pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy are important and common dermatoses during pregnancy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and specificity or non-specificity of pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy and their effects on health of mother and fetus, during a period of one year. Patients and Methods: The data were gathered by questionnaires completed by midwives in two antenatal clinics in Shiraz from October 1999 to October 2000. The pregnant patients with pruritic dermatoses were referred to dermatology outpatient clinic and evaluated according to their history, physical examination and laboratory workups. Results: Twenty-five patients out of 9500 pregnant women had pruritic lesions, so the incidence rate was 0.26%. Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and eczema were the most common dermatoses. One mortality and two morbidities in neonates of these mothers were observed. Conclusion: Because dermatoses of pregnancy are common and important diseases which can affect the health of both mother and fetus, further research in this field is necessary.