AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF CLINICAL FEATURES IN 100 CASES OF PITYRIASIS ROSEA.

Corresponding Author:
Sindhuja Ramasamy,
Associate Professor,
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy,
Thanjavur Medical College,
Thanjavur Medical College Road,
Thanjavur-613004.
E-mail: dhunsi75@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Objective- Pityriasis rosea is an acute self-limiting disease, probably infective in origin, affecting mainly children and young adults and characterised by distinctive skin eruption and minimal constitutional symptoms.

Aim of the study is to analyse the incidence of PR in Government General Hospital, Chengalpattu during the period from November 2016 to January 2017, age and sex distribution, probable aetiological factor, symptoms of PR, morphological types and distribution of PR, associated cutaneous findings and the course of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

100 self-reporting patients of age group 3 - 68 years with clinical features of Pityriasis rosea, who attended Dermatology OPD in Chengalpattu Medical College over a period of 6 months from September 2016 to February 2017 were enrolled.

RESULTS

Out of 100 cases studied 27 (27%) were females and 73 (73%) were males. Prodromal illness prior to the onset of rash was reported by 8 patients (8%), of whom 1 had fever alone, 1 had fever with history of jaundice and 6 had upper respiratory tract infection. Itching was absent in 51 patients; 49 patients (49%) had itching, of whom most patients (46) had only mild itch. Herald patch was present in 82 cases and absent in 18 cases. Both morphology and distribution were classical in 45% patients. In the remaining 55%, atypical morphology and/or atypical distribution were observed. In our study, none of the patients had mucous membrane or nail involvement. In 81% of patients, the lesions resolved within a period of 6 - 8 weeks. Active acne vulgaris is seen in 5 patients, of whom 1 had eczema also and 1 had seborrhoeic dermatitis in addition. Post Acne scar is seen in 1 patient. Nevus achromicus is seen in 1 patient. Epidermal nevus in 1 patient and combined hypo- and hyperpigmented moles in 1 patient.

CONCLUSION

Clinical diagnosis of Pityriasis rosea was easy based on the presence of Herald Patch, characteristic morphology and distribution pattern of the lesions. The present study has revealed male preponderance. The age incidence was found to be high in adolescents and young adults. No familial incidence was observed. Factors like wearing of new garments, stress and upper respiratory tract infections were found to precipitate the disease in some cases. In most of the patients the lesions vanished without trace and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation was noted in few patients, but none had hyperpigmentation. History of recurrence of the disease was also present in one case. Histopathological study showed the features of nonspecific chronic dermatitis.

KEYWORDS                           

Pityriasis rosea, Herald Patch, Patch, Types, Association.