A CLINICAL & EPEDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF LICHEN PLANUS AMONG CHILDREN

Abstract

Lichen planus (LP) is a common papulosquamous disorder of auto-immune Etiology characterised by pruritic, polygonal, purple, papules which was first described by Erasmus Wilson in 1869. LP affects all age groups and both sexes equally. Most cases have been reported in adult population but a few case series were present among children. This prompted us to carry-out the present study. MATERIALS & METHODS:The present study was carried out for a period of 1year from April 2014 to April 2015 which includes a sample size of 20 patients (n=20), attended to the dermatology OPD, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. Present study was done in children of less than 12 years of age including both sexes. Routine investigations such as hemogram, liver function test, and renal function test & serological test have been done, detailed immunisation history has been recorded, detailed medical & family history as well as drug history has been recorded. RESULTS: in our study the most common age group was in between 5 and 10 years. Among sex distribution male children were predominantly affected. Regarding the distribution of lesions lower limbs followed by trunk were the common sites to be effected, the most common morphological variants observed in our study were classical type followed by hypertrophic variant. CONCLUSION: our study concluded that the common age group was between 5 and 10 years and the most common presentation was classical type effecting the male children predominantly.