Epidemiological study of pityriasis alba among school children in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

Pityriais able is one of most common skin diseases affecting school children. The main objectives of the present study were to reveal magnitude of the problem among school children in Alexandria as well as to study various factors that could possibly affect the prevalence of pityriasis alba. The cross sectional strategy was chosen to screen a representative sample of 5854 [1% of urban and 2% of rural] of primary and preparatory school children in Alexandria during scholastic year 1987-1988 for presence of pityriasis alba. An ecual number of control subjects free from the condition was selected from the same class matched by age. The overall prevalence rate of pityriasis alba was 7.16% being significantly more in rural [17.67%] than in urban [5.25%] school children. The overall mean age of cases was 9.07+2.52 year. Male cases of pityriasias alba out- numbered female cases in a ratio of 2.11. cases sighnifisantly differed from their controls as regards intestinal parasitic infestation and prolonged exposure to sun light. The mean level of serum IGE was insignificantly higher than in the control group. The multiple regression analysis revealed that practicing of frequent face washing with water only through wudu a was associated with decrease in liability of the condition. It could be concluded that pitryirasis alba is common especially among rural echool children and prolonged exposure to sunlight as well as frequent use of soap for face washing were associated with an increase in the likelihood of occurrence of condition