Childhood vitiligo in Egypt: Clinico-epidemiologic Profile of 483 patients.

BACKGROUND

Childhood vitiligo is commonly encountered. Pattern and distribution of childhood vitiligo were not clearly described in past.

AIMS: To study clinical characteristics of vitiligo among Egyptian children in relation to epidemiological data and compare them with those of adolescents and adults.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Recruited clinically diagnosed vitiligo patients were categorized into three groups: I (children): <12 years old (yo), II (adolescents): 12-18 yo, and III (adults): 18-30 yo. Patients were subjected to history taking, general and dermatological examination to determine skin phototype, type, presentation, and distribution of vitiligo, percentage of body area involved using vitiligo extent score (VES), associated mucosal involvement, presence of leukotrichia, koebnerization, and halo nevi.

RESULTS

A total of 483 vitiligo patients were included: 220 children, 123 adolescents, and 140 adults. The most common form of vitiligo was nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV). Segmental and active vitiligo were more common in children than in adolescents and adults. The most common site of distribution of NSV in children was the face (periocular) vs arms and forearms in adults followed by thighs and legs in both. The mean age of onset of vitiligo in children was 6.18 (SD 2.93) yo, while mean duration of disease was 2.12 (SD 2.21) y. Face was the most common site of onset of vitiligo in children and adolescents vs arms and forearms in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood vitiligo differs from adult onset vitiligo regarding several features as type, site of onset, distribution, extent, and activity of disease.