[Differential diagnosis of common nail disorders in childhood].

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nCorrect diagnosis of nail changes in childhood may be challenging. Knowing the anatomy of the nail apparatus and some pathophysiologic principles helps to categorize nail disorders correctly.\n\n\nOBJECTIVES\nThis article gives a\xa0structured overview of nail disorders in childhood, thus, facilitating correct diagnosis of nail abnormalities in childhood.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nA review of literature and our own experience are presented.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn the first part we present fundamental anatomical characteristics of the nail apparatus based on embryonal development of the nails. In the main part we categorize nail disorders according to clinical presentation: transient nail changes, congenital nail abnormalities, infectious diseases of the nails, nail changes in the context of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, pigmented nail changes, tumors and nail changes due to trauma.