Epidemiological Study of Vitiligo in Damanhour Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is the most common skin depigmenting disorder resulting from a selective loss of epidermal melanocytes, and affects around 0.5% of the world population. Both sexes are affected, and there are no apparent differences in rates of occurrence according to phototype or race. Aims: This study was doneto evaluate the epidemiology of vitiligo in Damanhour teaching hospital and to assess the clinical presentations of  vitiligo. Patients and methods : This is a cross-sectional study on patients of vitiligo among  cases who attended the dermatology and andrology outpatient clinic in Damanhour teaching hospital ,El-Behira ,Egypt .A predesigned dermatological sheet was used for data collection from the first 10,000 patients during a period of six months. Patients were clinically examined to determine type of skin diseases they have and those with vitiligo were selected. Results : Out of 10,000 studied patients, there were 86 cases of vitiligo with a prevalence of 0.86%. The results revealed a female predominance. There was a predominance of patients from rural areas. The most common associated disorder was thyroid disease.Conclusion: the prevalence of vitilgo in Damanhour teaching hospital is 0.86% and it is slightly more common among females and in rural areas. The most common exacerbating factor is stress.