Psychological Burden Faced By Vitiligo Patients: A Comparative Study In Kerala And Punjab

Abstract

Vitiligo is a common chronic skin disease having unknown aetiology, which causes a disfigurement and variable amount of skin and hair depigmentation and may affect a patient?s quality of life. To assess the psychological burden and epidemiologic profile of various age groups of patients affected by vitiligo in the southernmost district of the coastal state of Kerala and southern part of Punjab. All were investigated in a door- to- door survey. The questionnaire consisted of two sections, including psychological burden and their epidemiologic profile of various age groups. The questionnaire assigned contained questions about vitiligo characteristics such as the body surface area affected, skin tone, affected by genital vitiligo or not, marriage life and their sexual relationship, stigmatised conditions facing, whether or not affected areas were covered by dresses. 40% of males and 60 % of females were affected by vitiligo in Kerala but in Punjab males were more affected than females i.e. 60% and 40% respectively. The present study revealed that in Kerala and Punjab 25% of vitiligo patients were reported within the age group of 51-60 years and 20% within the age group of 21-30 years. More than 25% patients in Kerala and Punjab were fully affected with the vitiligo and the quality of life was impaired more in those patients and to a greater extent in women is more seen. About 76% of patients admitted of feeling self-conscious about their skin in Kerala whereas in Punjab 24% were affected.