A clinico-epidemiological study of polymorphic light eruption in a tertiary care centre in Salem: a region of South India

Abstract

<p><strong> </strong><strong>Introduction: </strong>Polymorphic light eruption (PMLE) is an acquired photodermatosis characterized by a polymorphic eruption ranging from papulovesicular lesions to large plaques. The prevalence of PMLE varies from 5% to 15% in various studies across the world and<strong> </strong>in India it is 0.56%.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The present study was conducted to study the clinical pattern and to assess the epidemiological aspects of polymorphic light eruption.</p><p><strong>Material and Method: </strong>A cross sectional prospective study was conducted in Dermatology OPD between April 2015 and June 2016. A total of 100 patients with symptoms and signs of PMLE were included in the study. Data were coded and analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Majority of the cases in our study were in the age group of 21 - 30 years (36%). It was more common in females (82%) when compared with males (18%). Occupation of most of the patients (29%) was farmers in our study population. Positive family history of PMLE was seen in 11% of the study population. The commonest form was the papular type (46%) and the second most common type was plaque type (17%). Regarding the distribution of lesions, about 51% of our study subjects had polymorphic lesions confined to only one area of their body mostly forearm (25%) followed by face (12%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The prevalence of PMLE was 1.34% in our study population. Pruritus was the presenting complaint in most of the cases and the rash was mainly seen in areas exposed to sunlight.</p>