A Clinicoepidemiological Study of Pemphigus in India.

Introduction: Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous disorder affecting skin and mucosa. There are reports of some factors that can provoke the disease in genetically predisposed individuals and some have a protective effect. Aims and Objectives: To study the clinical features of pemphigus and possible epidemiological risk factors. Materials and Methods: Hundred cases with clinical diagnosis of pemphigus and equal number of controls were selected for the study. The clinical features of the disease and possible epidemiological risk factors were studied and compared with controls. Routine blood tests were also advised. Observations: There were 78 cases of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), 21 of foliaceous (PF) and 1 of erythematosus (PE). Ratio of male: female was 0.92:1. Mean age of cases was 40.905 ± 14.011 and of controls 42.64 ± 12.756. History of (h/o) exposure to pesticides in fields, intake of food containing garlic, number of pregnancies and use of cosmetics (Kajal) were significantly high in cases whereas smoking, tobacco chewing, herpes infection and mental stress were high in controls. Exposure to fertilizers, intake of alcohol and oral contraceptives were equal in both. Conclusion: Pemphigus had slight female preponderance in lower socioeconomic strata of rural areas. Exposure to pesticides, garlic intake, use of cosmetics and higher number of pregnancies may be predisposing where as smoking or tobacco chewing was not. Avoiding such risk factors may be helpful in prevention or fast recovery of pemphigus.

A clinicoepidemiological study of polymorphic light eruption.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) varies between 10-20% in different countries but no such data is available from India, where exposure to sunlight is high. METHODS: A clinico-epidemiological study of PLE was done in the skin outpatient department (OPD) of Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital from January to December. RESULTS: The ages of the patients varied from 5-70 years. Out of a total of 39,112 OPD cases, 220 cases of PLE (138 females and 82 males) were recorded, giving a prevalence of 0.56% in this study population. The skin type varied between IV and VI in 96% of the cases. Housewives were 81, students 67, office persons 39, farmers 22, businessmen 6 and unemployed 5. DISCUSSION: The manifestation of PLE was most common in housewives in areas exposed to the sun. Most of the PLE patients presented with mild symptoms and rash around the neck, forearms and arms which was aggravated on exposure to sunlight. PLE was more prevalent in the months of March and September and the disease was recurrent in 31.36% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PLE was 0.56%. It was mild in nature and only areas exposed to the sun were involved.

Hypoacusis in vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo affects melanocytes in the skin. Since melanocytes are present in other organs as well, it is plausible that they may be similarly affected. METHODS: A comparative study of audiological functions was carried out in 180 patients of vitiligo and 60 non-vitiligo controls in the age group of 5-40 years. RESULTS: In vitiligo patients sensorineural hypoacusis of mild degree was found in 18, moderate in 13 and mild conductive hypoacusis in 3. In controls sensorineural hypoacusis of mild degree was found in only 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Vitiligo patients have a higher prevalence of sensorineural hypoacusis.