Epidemiologic Aspects of Alopecia Areata in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan: A Retrospective Study (2023-2024)

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Published Jun 24, 2025
https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v3i04.361
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Vol. 3 No. 04 (2024): December

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Rohullah Asady
Nangarhar University
Mohammad Qais Nabizada
Nangarhar University
Hayatullah Ahmadzai
Nangarhar University

Abstract

Alopecia areata is a common, chronic, inflammatory disease causing non-scarring hair loss. This autoimmune disorder, mediated by T-cells, arises from inadequate major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) molecule expression on hair follicle surfaces due to genetic defects, triggering antibody production. Hair follicles typically retain reactivation capacity, with most cases improving within a year. Clinically, smooth, shiny, circular patches of hair loss appear, often with broken hairs at the edges. Although etiology remains unclear, genetic predisposition, immune dysfunction, and environmental factors are implicated. This retrospective cross-sectional study at Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital analyzed 22,650 dermatology patients (2023–2024). Among 241(1.1%) alopecia cases, 81 had alopecia areata. Most (92.6%) exhibited mild (patchy) forms, 72.8% were male, and the majority (87.6%) were aged 1–30 years. Rural residents constituted 64.2%. Comparisons with global studies showed similar demographics, though no cases under one year were observed, contrasting with Saudi Arabian reports. Findings highlight a male predominance, mild clinical presentations, and middle-aged rural residents as the most affected.

Keywords

Alopecia, Areata, Epidemiologic, aspects, Nangarhar, University, Teaching, Hospital

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Author Biographies

Rohullah Asady, Nangarhar University

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Mohammad Qais Nabizada, Nangarhar University

Department of Physiology,Faculty of Medicine,Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Hayatullah Ahmadzai, Nangarhar University

Department of internal medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

How to Cite
Asady, R., Nabizada, M. Q., & Ahmadzai, H. (2025). Epidemiologic Aspects of Alopecia Areata in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan: A Retrospective Study (2023-2024). Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences, 3(04), 54–58. https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v3i04.361

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