title: [Clinical-epidemiological aspects of pityriasis versicolor (PV) in a fishing community of the semiarid region in Falcon State, Venezuela].
abstract: Between August 2001 and May 2002, the prevalence and several epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pityriasis versicolor (PV) were studied in 902 individuals aged two months- 60 years, 426 females and 476 males, from a fishery community of Río Seco, a semiarid region in the state of Falcon, north-western Venezuela. The overall prevalence of the disease was 15.52% (140/902). The frequency of infection was higher in females (65.7% vs. 34.3%), children under one year of age and adolescents (27.9% y 32.1%, respectively), and dark skin (67.9%). The most commonly affected anatomical areas were the face (57.9%) and thorax (27.1%). The most important clinical features of the disease were: hypochromic (91.4%), multicentric (73.6%), pruritic (92.9%), fine scaled (80.7%) and irregularly shaped borders (91.4%). On the basis of these results, the possible risk factors on transmission dynamic and maintenance of the disease endemically is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Post-Grado de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Alfredo Van Grieken, Coro, Estado Falcón, Venezuela.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Acosta Quintero
authors.forename: Dalmiro José
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cazorla Perfetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005398:Fisheries; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012623:Seawater; D013546:Sweating; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology