An Epidemiological Study of Vitiligoin an Urban City Hospital

Vitiligo commonly begins in childhood or young adulthood with peak onset between 10 to 30 years. From this study results it was found that females 83(55.3%)were more commonly affected with vitiligo than males 67(44.7%) and the most common affected age group is 31-50 (35.33%) and the most common site of onset of vitiligo was equal in upper limb and face seen in 71(47.33%) patients each, followed by lower limb sseenin50(33.33%) patients. The most common site involved in males was upper limb 32(47. 76%)and females was face 42(50.6%)were observed. The common type was common clinical type of vitiligo documented was vitiligo vulgaris, seen in 69(46%) patients. This was followed by mucosal vitiligo 36(24%), acrofacial22 (14.67%), segmental17 (11.33%) and vitiligo are ata6 (4%) and reported to be more common in B positive patients.


INTRODUCTION
Vitiligo is an acquired melanocytopenia, it is believed to show a clinical manifestation of patches, depigmented macules it is also associated with leukotrichia.it mostly affects neck ,face,forearms, hand,scalp and fingers. The onset of the diseases in between 10 to 30 years.it is reported to be associated with other autoimmune disorders. It also creates a

Original Research Article
psychosocial impact among the population [1][2][3]. As vitiligo is reported to be one of the major dermatological disease in India, this study aims to find out its epidemiology by observing the demographic data, clinical patterns of vitiligo and its association with family history and comorbidities .

Study Design
Descriptive Crosssectional stud

Study Area
Skin Outpatient Department, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital.

Study Population
All patients attending skin OPD who are clinically diagnosed as vitiligo.

Inclusion Criteria
1. Consenting for the study. 2. All types of vitiligo.

Sample Method
Purposive random sampling.

150.
Patients reported as vitiligo were taken for the study. A pre-structured and pre-tested proforma were utilized tin data collection. Demographic data was noted and the recruited patients were subjected to thorough general and derma to logical examination and asked to give full history. 150 patients were involved in this cross sectional study.

Statistical Analysis
A cross sectional study was carried out in 150 patients to study the epidemiology of vitiligo.
Descriptive statistics was done for all data and were reported in terms of mean values and percentages. Suitable statistical tests of comparison were done. Continuous variables were analysed with the unpaired ttest and Single factor ANOVA test. Categorical variables were analysed with the Chi-Square Test and Fisher Exact Test. Statistical significance was taken as P<0.05. The data were analysed using SPSS version16 and Microsoft Excel 2007. .

DISCUSSION
The mean age group affected in males was32.61±19.22years and in females was 38.92±19.17 years, these results were in concurrence with the study done by Hita Shahetal [4,5]. Babaie Nejadet al worked on the site of infection in a particular population and proved that it affects face, nose and forelimbs majorly, which is similar to the results obtained in our study which is dueto an increased exposure of these sites to sunlight and increased contact with environmental irritants. In our study, the most common site of onset of vitiligo was equal in upper limb and face seen in 71(47.33%) patients each, followed by lower limb sseenin 50(33.33%) patients. The most common site involved in males was upper limb 32(47.76%)and females was face 42(50 6%).This was statistically significant and concurrence with the study done by Babaie Nejad et al. [6].This may be due to an increased exposure of these sites to sunlight and increased contact with environmental irritants. Generalized vitiligo is the most common type and vitiligo vulgaris is reported to be the most common subtype of vitiligo. In our study,the most common clinical type of vitiligo documented was vitiligo vulgaris, seen in 69(46%) patients.This was followed by mucosal vitiligo 36(24%), acr of acial 22(14.67%), segmental 17(11.33%) and vitiligo are ata6(4%).Previous studies have reported that the onset of segmental pattern of vitiligo usually occurs early in life, whereas bilateral or nonsegmental pattern is seen in second to fourth decades of life. In ours tudy, the age of onset of segmental (52.94%) and acr of acial (50%)vitiligo were commonly seen between11-30years of age. The onset of vitiligo vulgaris (36.23%) was commonly seen between11-30 years and 31-50 years. The onset of mucosal vitiligo (44.44%) was commonly seen between 31-50 years and vitiligo are ata (50%) among less than 10 years of age. In our study, out of 150 patients with vitiligo, 66 patients (44%) were belonging to B positive blood group. Of which, 26(38.81%) patients were males and 40(48.19%) patients were females. This was similar to the study done by Sehgal et al. [7,8].

CONSENT
As per international standard or university standard, patient's written consent has been collected and preserved by the author(s).

ETHICAL APPROVAL
The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee,