Clinical characteristics of childhood vitiligo in Nigeria

Authors

  • Ehiaghe L. Anaba Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
  • Adebola O. O. Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20190690

Keywords:

Childhood, Clinical characteristics, Nigeria, Vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Literature specifically documenting clinical characteristics of childhood vitiligo are few when compared to the documentation in adults in Nigeria. This study aims to document the clinical characteristics of childhood vitiligo.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 35 children diagnosed to have vitiligo from January of 2005 to December of 2010 at the dermatology outpatient clinic of the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan. A proforma was used to extract socio-demographic variables and clinical features from the chats. Ethical clearance for the study was given by the research and ethics committee of the hospital.

Results: Over the 5 year period, 35 out of 264 children were diagnosed to have vitiligo giving an incidence of 13.3 %. The children were made up of 34.3% males and 65.7% females. At presentation, 71.4% of the children were aged 0-10 years. In 80% of the children, age at onset of vitiligo was before age 10 years especially at age 6-10 years. The commonest area of onset was the face/scalp (51.4%) and the commonest type of vitiligo was segmental. Severity of vitiligo was <9% in 97.1% of cases. Vitiligo was in an exposed part of the body in 88.6% of the children. Only females had the genitalia as area of onset of vitiligo.

Conclusions: Childhood vitiligo is mainly segmental, re-pigments well and occurs more in females. Only females have the genital area as the area of onset.

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Published

2019-02-23

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Original Research Articles