Alopecia Areata

Study data from Chang-Gung University, Department of Dermatology update understanding of alopecia areata in children

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"In a cross-sectional study carried out in June 2004, 4067 of 7851 children aged between 6 and 11 years living in the Kaohsiung County in south Taiwan were clinically surveyed and examined by two board-certified dermatologists (response rate 52%), regarding the point prevalence of acne, ephelides, warts, atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, alopecia areata (AA) and keloid. Acne vulgaris was found in girls and boys from the age of 6 and 7, respectively, with comedones being the earliest presentation. Ephelides were not infrequently observed in our children (prevalence rate 8.4%, 95% confidence interval, CI 7.9-9.3%). The prevalence of warts on hands was 2.4% (95% CI 1.9-2.9%). The prevalence of AD was 1.7% (95% CI 1.3-2.1%), without gender difference. There were only four cases of AA but no psoriasis was found. Keloid was identified in 13 boys and 10 girls, accounting for 0.6% (95% CI 0.598-0.602%) of the children. Acne vulgaris is as common in Taiwan as in Western countries. Ephelides are not uncommon in our population with the main skin types III-IV. A clustered distribution of the wart infection was noted. The low prevalence of AD in Taiwan seems unaltered over the past decade. AA and psoriasis are rare in our series," wrote Y.C. Yang and colleagues, Chang-Gung University, Department of Dermatology.

The researchers concluded: "Most keloids in our children are caused by BCG vaccination."

Yang and colleagues published the results of their research in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (Prevalence of childhood acne, ephelides, warts, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, alopecia areata and keloid in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan: a community-based clinical survey. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2007;21(5):643-9).

For additional information, contact Y.C. Yang, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Dept. of Dermatology, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taiwan.

The publisher of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DG, Oxon, England.

Keywords: Taiwan, Acne Vulgaris, Alopecia Areata, Atopic Dermatitis, Dermatology, Epidemiology, Immunology, Keloid, Psoriasis, Rheumatology, Skin Disease, Venereology, Warts.

This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.