Lichen striatus in Uganda - Case reports and update of clinical picture, differential diagnosis and pathogenesis: First description of patients in Sub-Saharan-Africa

Lichen striatus is a rare, benign, self-limited, mostly asymptomatic, inflammatory condition of unknown etiology, typically occurring in childhood. It is rare in adults. The unilateral papular lesions have a linear morphology following the lines of Blaschko. The most commonly involved sites of the lichenoid lesions are the limbs. Differential diagnosis should consider other blaschkoid and papular dermatoses, such as linear psoriasis, linear atopic dermatitis, linear lichen planus, inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN), and, in particular, the so-called "Blaschkitis". A 30-year old HIV-negative patient from Uganda suffered from lichen striatus of his left arm, chest, and palm. Diagnosis was made based on the characteristic clinical picture and medical history of the disorder. A 13-year old Ugandan boy showed strand-like papular hyperpigmented and hypopigmented lesions of his right arm. This is the first description of lichen striatus in Sub-Saharan-Africa, in particular in Uganda. It is suggested that lichen striatus could be found much more frequent in tropical and subtropical countries however not published.