Age and sex prevalence of infectious dermatoses among primary school children in a rural South-Eastern nigerian community

Abstract

IntroductionVarious dermatoses, due to their morbidity characteristics, have been shown to negatively impact on learning. The most epidemiologically important seem to be the infectious types because of their transmissibility and amenability to simple school-health measures. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and sex/age correlates of infectious dermatoses in a rural South-eastern Nigerian community.MethodsThe pupils were proportionately recruited from the three primary schools based on school population. Stratified simple random sampling method was adopted and a table of random numbers was used to select required pupils from each arm. Clinical and laboratory examination was done to establish diagnoses of infectious skin disease. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 16.ResultsThe 400 pupils consisted of 153 males and 247 females. Age range was between 6 and 12 years. The prevalence of infectious dermatoses was 72.3%. The five most prevalent clinical forms of infectious dermatoses, in order of decreasing prevalence, were tinea capitis (35.2%), scabies (10.5%), tinea corporis (5.8%), tinea pedis (5.5%), and impetigo (5.0%). More cases, generally, occurred among males than females (80.4% vs 67.2%)); while some specific clinical types, pediculosis and seborrheic dermatitis, exhibited predilection for females. Pyodermas and scabies were significantly more prevalent in the 7-9 age-group; while tinea capitis, tinea corporis, seborrheic dermatitis and pediculosis were more associated with ≥10 age-group.ConclusionInfectious dermatoses were highly prevalent in the surveyed population. Many of the clinical types exhibited sex- and age-specificity.

Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in Damascus, Syria, from 2008 to 2016

“…In addition, 238 (39.79%, CI: 0.35-0.45) children were found positive by direct exam as reported in India [20]. In the Nigerian community, the incidence of this tinea was 35.2%, which is slightly similar to our result [17], but it was lower in an Ethiopian study (8.7%) [18]. In our study, male children were more frequently infected with tinea capitis than female children (65.12%, 34.88%, respectively; P=0.00 ).…”

Infectious dermatoses in a primary health care center in Côte d’Ivoire. Case of community health care center in yopougon Attié

“…The high prevalence of viral infections in our series as it was found in literature [5], could be explained by the possible inadequate immunization coverage or the depression of the immune system, as patients were found HIV positive in 5.7% of cases in our series. All these infectious dermatoses are favored by several factors such as: poor sanitary conditions, sharing personal effects and poor access to medical and water supplies.…”

“…The prevalence of infectious diseases found in our study was 92.12%. This rate was above the 72.3% reported in Nigeria by Kalu [5]. The rates found in these studies could be a reflection of the defective environment health conditions such as lack of sanitary facilities, dirty environment and promiscuity with overcrowded household.…”

Epidemiological study of patients infected with scabies caused by Sarcoptes scabiei in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq

“…Patients infected with scabies suffer from skin redness and severe itching in different body parts such as arms, legs and between the thighs [4,5]. Most patients infected with this disease are lived in rural areas without health care and without health awareness [6][7][8]. About more than 100 million patients infected with scabies worldwide [9,10].…”