Demographic and clinical characteristics of keloids in an urban center in Sub-Sahara Africa

Keloid is a major complication of wound healing. The clinical spectrum ranges from unaesthetic lesions minimally invading the adjacent skin to large grotesque lesions sometimes associated with contractures.The patients were seen over 2 years in a tertiary hospital setting. The following information was obtained with a proforma: the biodata, etiology of keloid, region affected, symptoms, and treatment prior to presentation. The keloids were examined and the sizes were grouped into small, medium, and large keloids; the severities of symptoms were determined using the visual analog scale.159 patients with 224 keloids were seen over 2-year period with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.24. The most common causes of keloid were trauma and acne (27.0% and 20.1%, respectively). The trunk had a statistically significant higher number of symptomatic keloid compared with other regions keloids. The larger keloids were more symptomatic compared with the smaller ones, P = 0.000. There were more pruritic keloids than painful ones. About 25% of patients had positive family history in first-degree relative, 16% in second-degree relative, and their keloid are more symptomatic than those without family history.In view of the burden of keloids, early treatment is advised. Unnecessary trauma and extra piercing should be avoided; elective surgeries that are deferrable should be postponed until when necessary.