Magnitude, clinical profile and associated factors of childhood and adolescence vitiligo
| dc.contributor.advisor | Messay Tesfaye | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Miheretu Woldeyes | |
| dc.contributor.author | Bizuayehu Goshime | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-04-06T06:35:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-04-06T06:35:30Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune depigmenting disorder that significantly impacts quality of life, especially in children and adolescents. Although studies from other regions indicate varying prevalence and clinical patterns, there is scarce data on the epidemiology and clinical profile of childhood vitiligo in Ethiopia, particularly from tertiary referral centers. Objective: To assess the magnitude, clinical profile, and associated factors of childhood and adolescent vitiligo at ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to October 2025. All children under 18 years diagnosed with vitiligo were consecutively enrolled. Data on socio demographics, clinical features, family history, and treatment were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed using SPSS version 27. Results: Among 1,694 pediatric dermatology patients, 61 were diagnosed with vitiligo, giving a prevalence of 3.6%. The mean age was 9.28 ± 3.80 years, with a female predominance (65.6%). The duration of vitiligo at presentation ranged from 1 to 84 months, with a mean of 25.61 ± 20.51 months. Vitiligo vulgaris (44.3%) was the most common subtype, followed by mucosal vitiligo (29.5%). The head and neck region was the most frequent initial site (45.9%). (14.7%) had a positive family history, and trauma was most common (8.2%) precipitating factor. Familial atopy was reported in 6.6% of cases. Conclusion: Vitiligo constituted a significant proportion (3.6%) of pediatric dermatology cases, highlighting its relative frequency in children. It mainly affected school-aged children, with a female predominance. Delayed presentation was common, indicating possible barriers to early care. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most prevalent subtype, and the head and neck were the most commonly involved initial sites. The presence of family history, trauma, and familial atopy suggests a role of genetic and environmental factors. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial to limit disease progression and psychosocial impact, underscoring the need for heightened clinical awareness and tailored management strategies for childhood vitiligo in Ethiopia | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8059 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa Uinverstiy | |
| dc.subject | Vitiligo | |
| dc.subject | childhood | |
| dc.subject | adolescents | |
| dc.subject | prevalence | |
| dc.subject | ALERT Hospital | |
| dc.subject | Ethiopia. | |
| dc.title | Magnitude, clinical profile and associated factors of childhood and adolescence vitiligo |