Clinical profile of pityriasis rosea: a descriptive study from urban Karnataka

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Pityriasis rosea (PR) is common, self-limited papulo-squamous dermatosis of unknown origin, which mainly appears in adolescents and young adults (10-35 years). It has a sudden onset, and in its typical presentation, the eruption is proceeded by a solitary patch termed “herald patch”, mainly located on the trunk. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical profile of pityriasis rosea.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The data was collected from patients attending the Department of Dermatology, Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital attached to Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga. It is a descriptive observational study. A total 79 patients suffering from pityriasis rosea who attended the outpatient department were included in the present study during the period from 2006 to 2007.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 79 patients studied, majority were from 11-20 years age group 33 (41.8%) followed by 27.8% from 21-30 years age group. The mean age of study population was found to be 21.3±6.4 years. 11% gave history of acne vulgaris, 8% each had history of atopy and drugs. Commonly observed prodromal symptoms were URTI (25.3%) and fever (17.7%). Herald patch was seen on trunk in majority of patients i.e. 36 (61%) followed by 18.6% cases on upper extremity and on neck (8.5%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study concludes that pityriasis is common in 11-20 years age group with male predominance having URTI as common prodromal symptom and typical rash.</p>

To study the Clinico epidemiological profile of pityriasis rosea in a tertiary care Hospital in North Kerala

“…In cases of diagnostic dilemma, we sought for skin biopsy though histopathology features are fairly nonspecific. southern part of India [8,9] . There are two studies in literature regarding the association of streptococcal infection with Pityriasis rosea however the results were conflicting [10,11] .…”