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Vitiligo: a study of 120 cases.
1Department of Dermatology in 167 Military Hospital C/o 56, APO, India.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
|August 1, 2007
Summary
Vitiligo, a common skin condition, affects males and females equally and often begins before age twenty. Hereditary factors appear to play a minimal role in vitiligo development.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Vitiligo is a prevalent pigmentary disorder causing significant social and cosmetic distress in India.
- Understanding the epidemiology of vitiligo is crucial for public health initiatives and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the age of onset and sex incidence in vitiligo patients.
- To investigate the role of hereditary factors in vitiligo.
- To explore associations between vitiligo and other diseases.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted on 120 self-reporting vitiligo patients attending a service hospital's outpatient department.
- Data on demographics, age of onset, family history, affected body areas, lesion type, and comorbidities were analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in sex incidence was observed (51.6% males, 48.35% females).
- The majority of patients (43.2%) experienced disease onset before twenty years of age, with the youngest case at two years.
- Only 6.6% of cases reported a family history of vitiligo, and hereditary factors were found to play a minimal role. Exposed areas were commonly affected (66.6%), with legs being the most frequent site (50%). Circumscript vitiligo (46.6%) was the most common type, and most patients (56.6%) had multiple lesions. Two patients (2.6%) had diabetes mellitus.
Conclusions:
- Vitiligo exhibits a balanced sex incidence and frequently manifests in early adulthood.
- Hereditary factors appear to have a limited influence on vitiligo development.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the idiopathic causes of vitiligo and its potential associations.
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