| Popis: |
Background: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute self-limiting papulo-squamous skin disorder commonly observed in otherwise healthy children and young adults. Objective: To describe the clinical pattern of PR in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out between June 2010 and May 2011 among out-patients attending three dermatology clinics in Kano, Nigeria. Patients with rashes that met the clinical diagnostic criteria of PR were recruited and followed up until there was resolution of lesions. The demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded along with the clinical manifestations of the lesions. All the data obtained were analysed using SPSS for Windows. Results: Out of 1,528 patients seen over the 12 months study period, 56 patients had PR out of which 23 (41.1%) were males and 33 (58.9%) were females, giving a male:female ratio of 1:1.4. PR, therefore, accounted for 3.6% of all dermatology out-patient visits in Kano. The patients' ages ranged from 6 years to 55 years with most of them in the age range of 11–20 years. The peak month of incidence was January in which about a quarter (21%) of the patients were seen. Only 5 (8.9%) patients had prodromal symptoms preceding the onset of the rash. Herald patch, which was mainly located on the trunk, was present in 45 (80%) of the studied patients. Secondary eruptions appeared within 7 days after the herald patch in 69% and had a typical Christmas tree pattern of distribution along the line of skin cleavage in 70% of the patients. Approximately three-quarter (73 %) of the patients had complete resolution of the rash by the 4th week. Recurrence was not reported 24 weeks after the last patient was seen. Conclusion: The pattern of presentation of PR was not different from that observed by other researchers. However, contrary to earlier reports from south Nigeria, our study shows that PR occurs more frequently during the cold dry season. |
