Clinical Study of Alopecia Areata in Children during the Five Years (2007~2012) / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring, autoimmune, inflammatory hair loss on the scalp and/or body. This disease affects both adults and children but there are limited data on AA in children than AA in adults. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, disease associations and psychosomatic dynamics of pediatric AA for the past 5 years. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 120 out-patients under 14 years old who are diagnosed as alopecia areata in the department of dermatology from March, 2007 to February, 2012. RESULTS: The proportion of pediatric group in total alopecia areata was 20.2% (120/595). According to clinical records, the alopecia areata were of 111 patients (79.9%) followed by those with alopecia universalis (4 patients; 2.8%) and alopecia totalis (5 patients; 3.6%). The ratio of males (57 patients; 47.5%) to females (63 patients; 52.5%) was 1 : 1.11. Alopecia areata was seen most frequently in the school age group (69 patients; 57.5%) and the duration period was less than one year in most cases (79.2%). Family history of alopecia areata was observed in 10.8% (13/120). The only child or eldest child being overloaded with homework and has deficient parent-child relationships including familial discord was accounted as the most susceptible group. A multiple bald patch was 51.4% in alopecia areata and the most common associated disease was atopic dermatitis (26 patients; 21.7%). CONCLUSION: We observed several clinical features of the pediatric AA, including epidemiology, clinical characteristics and disease associations. This study provided useful data for future research regarding AA in children.