Clinical Study of Vitiligo in Paediatric Population

Abstract

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary anomaly of the skin manifested by depigmented white patches surrounded by a normal or a hyperpigmented border. We studied the clinical profile of vitiligo in paediatric population in Osmania General Hospital over a period of one year from February 2011 to January 2012. METHODS A total of fifty cases of children attending the vitiligo clinic of DVL Department at OGH, Hyderabad were studied. All the children attending the clinic were screened and the sample obtained on fulfilment of the selection criteria. Thirty consecutive adult patients attending the same clinic were taken as controls. This study attempts to identify and understand the features of vitiligo in the paediatric population like clinical spectrum of the disease, demographic features, associated diseases, familial predisposition and to compare all the above to the same features in adult vitiligo patients. RESULTS Out of 50 cases the mean age of the children in the study group was 9.71 yrs. while that of adults in control group was 30.26 yrs. The male female ratio in children was 2.1:2.9 and 7:9 in adults. The predominant site was the extremities mainly the lower limbs followed by face. 60 % of the cases were stable. Trauma was commonest predisposing event associated with 20% of children. CONCLUSIONS In our study the mean age of children at presentation was higher than other studies. Sex distribution was not significant. Course of the disease was found to be stable. The incidence of predisposing factors was found to be higher in children like trauma, febrile illness and contact with colours/paints, etc. The most common clinical variety was generalised and high incidence of dental caries was noted in the study group.