Pitriyazis Rozea olgularında demografik özellikler ve iklimsel faktörlerin incelenmesi

Abstract

Background and Design: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute onset, self-limiting papulosquamous skin disease. The etiology of the disease is totally unknown, however, many epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested that infectious agents may cause the disease. Seasonal changes in the incidence may be an epidemiologic evidence for potential infectious etiology. In this study, we aimed to analyze the demographic data of PR patients and to explore the role of climatic factors in the etiology of the disease.

Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed the patient files of PR cases that had been followed up in our clinic between 2000 and 2005. Demographic data of the patients as well as the date of applications were recorded. Temperature, raining, pressure and humidity data for the City of Bursa for years 2000-2005 were obtained from the General Directorate of Meteorology, Republic of Turkey. Any potential relationship between onset time of PR and meteorological parameters was investigated statistically by using cluster analysis.

Results: We reviewed the medical records of 413 patients, of whom 271 were female and 142 were male. Herald plaque was seen in 88 patients (21.3%). Pityriasis rosea was observed predominantly in persons between 20 and 29 years of age (139 patients; 33.6%). Distribution of number of cases between 2000-2005 was 51, 57, 80, 75, 63, 87. The highest number of patients was seen in winter (n:122; 29.5%) followed by spring (n:101; 24.4%), autumn (n:101; 24.4%) and summer (n:89; 21.7%). No statistically significant difference was found between annual and seasonal changes in the incidence of PR (p>0.05).

Conclusion: We conclude that although the relation between PR and seasonal factors was not statistically significant in our study, multi-centric studies on large series of patients are needed to further investigate this topic.