Clinicoepidemiological Study of Childhood Vitiligo

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Vitiligo is a cosmetically disfiguring,psychologically devastating disease and is resistant to therapy.Vitiligo in childhood can be associated with significantemotional trauma that may have long‑lasting effects on thepsychosocial development of these children and self esteem.Childhood vitiligo has different epidemiological, clinical,therapeutic, and prognostic profile. This study was carried outto assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics ofvitiligo in pediatric patients.Material and methods: It was a prospective, observationalstudy carried out over a period of 1 year. All patients youngerthan 18 years of age with vitiligo attending the Dermatologyop of Osmania General hospital, hyderabad between April2017 and March 2018 were included in the study.Results: The most common pattern of vitiligo wasvulgaris (48%) followed by focal (34%), mucosal (8%)acro‑facial(6%), segmental (4%). Lower limb was the mostcommon site for vitiligo seen in 56 patients (56%), followedby face (21%), upper limbs (10%), mucosal (8%) and scalp(5%). No patients had universal presentation. 27 patients(27%) had Leukotrichia whereas Koebner’s phenomenon waspositive in 24 patients (24%).Conclusion: Childhood vitiligo is common depigmentingdisorder encountered frequently in females probably dueto higher concern about the disfiguring nature of disease infemales, with a mean age of onset being around 6.3 years.Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common pattern of presentation,followed by the focal type of vitiligo while the universalpattern was rare in childhood. Lower limbs were the mostcommon site of involvement followed by face. Patients withfamily history tend to present at an early age