Pityriasis versicolor in the pediatric age group.
BACKGROUND
Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a mild chronic infection of the skin caused by Malassezia yeasts. Although it is primarily seen in adults, children are often affected in the tropics .


METHODS
Over a period of 2 years, children (up to the age of 14 years) who were clinically and mycologically diagnosed as PV were included in the study. The clinical and epidemiological pattern in different age groups was noted.


RESULTS
PV in this age group formed about 31% of the total cases of PV; 4.8% cases presented in infancy. The commonest site of involvement was the face in 39.9% of the cases. Most of the cases presented in summer months.


CONCLUSIONS
PV is not an uncommon disease among children in the tropics. There is a sudden resurgence of cases in the hot monsoons and even infants are not spared.
Jena
Deepak Kumar
DK
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, Orissa, India.
Sengupta
Sujata
S
Dwari
Binayak Chandra
BC
Ram
Manoj Kumar
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*