Prevalence of Skin Pigmentary Disorders among Primary School Children in Damietta Governorate

Background: Skin diseases account for a significant proportion of pediatric consultations (6–24%). Ethnic, socioeconomic and environmental factors influence their incidence, Aim: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of skin pigmentary disorders among primary school children in Damietta governorate, Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional design in Damietta governorate among pediatrics of age (6 - 12 years), Results: 489 primary school students (4.1%) had pigmentary disorders. Positive family history of lesion showed significant association with skin pigmentary disorders among primary school students (p<0.05). Triggering factors such as age, male sex, low and middle socioeconomic status and injury were found to be more prevalent among students with these disorders. Atopic dermatitis was more common among students with pigmentary disorders. Of the 280 students, 43.7% had normal skin, 6.1% had two or three lesions and 0.4% had three. Skin pigmentary disorders were distributed as hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, melanocytic nevus, pityriasis alba, congenital melanocytic nevus, pigmented contact dermatitis, Tinea versicolor, Café au Lait patch, Nevus depigmentosus and Piebaldism. Conclusion: Skin Pigmentary Disorders are prevalent in children, with 42.7% prevalence in primary school. These disorders include hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation and depigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is most common after inflammatory events, followed by acquired melanocytic nevus. Hypopigmentation is more common after inflammatory events, followed by pityriasis alba. Mixed lesions are common after both post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Predictors of pigmentary lesions include age, male sex, socioeconomic status and injury as triggering factor.