Vitiligo in Children: A Distinct Subset.

OBJECTIVE

To determine clinical profile of vitiligo in children.

STUDY DESIGN

A descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, from January 2010 to June 2013.

METHODOLOGY

All new patients below the age of 15 years, clinically diagnosed to have vitiligo, were included in the study. A detailed history was obtained, thorough physical examination was performed, and findings were recorded on a specially designed proforma for each patient separately. Computer programme SPSS-14 was used to manage and analyze the data.

RESULTS

Out of 157 children, 68 (43.3%) were males and 89 (56.7%) were females. Mean age at onset was 6.55 ±3.43 years. The disease started before 10 years of age in 123 (78.3%) children. Average duration of the disease was 1.48 ±1.87 years. Average duration of the disease was 1.73 ±2.09 years in male children and 1.29 ±1.67 years in female children. Generalized vitiligo was the commonest type (n = 83, 52.9%). The disease started most commonly from head and neck (n = 75, 47.8%). A family history of vitiligo was found in forty-nine (31.2%) children, Koebner phenomenon in 39 (24.8%) children and associated autoimmune or endocrine diseases in 8 (5.1%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Majority of the children developed the disease before 10 years of age. Generalized vitiligo was the commonest type. Childhood vitiligo was more common in female children.