A Clinical Study of Childhood Alopecia Areata in Chandigarh, India

Abstract

All new cases of alopecia areata (AA) were studied during the years 1983-1993. Eight hundred forty-one cases were recorded, including 201 (23.9%) children less than 16 years of age. The female:male ratio was 1.4:1 (117 girls, 84 boys) for childhood AA. Alopecia was severe, that is, total, universal, or extensive, in 34 (16.9%) children. Onset occurred in 77 (38.3%) children between ages 6 and 10 years, in 67 (33.3%) before 5 years of age, and in 57 (28.4%) between 11 and 16 years. Onset before 5 years of age was more often associated with severe alopecia than onset at ages 11 to 16 years (p < 0.01). Onset before 2 years of age was commonly associated with severe alopecia, seen in 6 (55.5%) of 11 children. Twenty-five (12.4%) children had one or more family members with AA. Definite evidence of atopy was obtained in 35 (17.5%) children. Association of atopy with severe alopecia was not statistically significant at initial presentation (16% vs 23.5% for circumscribed and severe alopecia, respectively; p > 0.05). Nail changes were found in 60 (30%) children and were more frequent in severe alopecia (53%) than in circumscribed alopecia (25.2%, p < 0.001). Associated vitiligo was found in seven (3.5%) children, and one child was hypothyroid. Childhood AA in Chandigarh, India, is remarkably similar to that seen in Western countries, except that an association of atopy with younger age at onset and severe alopecia was not confirmed.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of alopecia areata: an observational study from South India

“…Reported familial incidence in western literature varied from 20% to 40%. 8,15,18 Indian studies have reported an incidence of 1.7% and 8.7% respectively. 4,15 A study of AA in Singapore have reported an incidence of 4.6%.…”

“…8,15,18 Indian studies have reported an incidence of 1.7% and 8.7% respectively. 4,15 A study of AA in Singapore have reported an incidence of 4.6%. 5 Associated vitiligo was noted in 5% subjects suggesting an association between AA and vitiligo.…”

“…Earlier studies had reported frequencies between 10% and 50%. 4,[14][15][16][17] A study from Singapore have reported a higher frequency of 60.7%. 5 In our study 21.6% of patients with AA gave a history of AA in their first degree relative pointing a genetic link in the pathogenesis.…”

Childhood alopecia areata: A study of 89 patients

“…Hastalığın neden olduğu sosyal ve psikolojik etki nedeni ile aileler sıklıkla tıbbi destek ve tedavi için doktora başvurmaktadırlar 5,6,9 . Erişkin çağda görülen AA epidemiyolojisi daha iyi bilinirken çocukluk çağında AA ve eşlik eden komorbiditeleri ile ilgili ise yeterli çalışma bulunmamaktadır [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . Bu çalışmada Türk çocuk popülasyonunda AA'ya eşlik eden komorbiditeler ve bu hastalıklar ile ilgili bazı epidemiyolojik ve laboratuvar değişkenlerin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır.…”

“…AA özellikle genç hastalarda görülür, hastaların yaklaşık %60'ı ilk ataklarını 20 yaş öncesinde geçirirler 1,2 . AA'ya vitiligo, otoimmün tiroidit, sistemik lupus eritematozus (SLE), diyabetes mellitus (DM) ve pernisiyöz anemi gibi başka otoimmün hastalıklar da eşlik edebilmektedir 3,4 . AA epidemiyolojisi erişkin çağda iyi bilinmesine rağmen, çocukluk çağında görülen AA ile ilgili bilgiler daha kısıtlıdır [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] .…”