Dermatological problems of asylum seekers arriving on boats: A case report from Australia and a brief review

Abstract

Assessing the skin of asylum seekers, immigrants, migrant workers, tourists or even locals who return from abroad, can be a confronting task due to the possibility of such people having non-autochthonous diseases. Primary-care physicians and dermatologists need to have a systematic approach in the assessment of such dermatoses. This article describes an interesting case of possible kerosene-induced and diesel-induced skin injury in an asylum seeker arriving on a boat. Dermatological conditions in asylum seekers and a suggested template for skin assessment are discussed.

Cultural Issues in the Provision of Emergency Care to Irregular Migrants Who Arrive in Spain by Small Boats

“…Emergency care includes triage, assessment, first aid (Eonomopoulou et al, 2016), screening for contagious diseases, and identification of victims (Rauscher & Salzberger, 2016). The IMs suffer from dehydration, malnutrition (Pothiawala, 2015), urinary retention, infectious diseases (Napoli et al, 2014), burns (Cheng & Kumarasinghe, 2014), myalgia, and injuries (Eonomopoulou et al, 2016).…”

Climate change, human migration, and skin disease: is there a link?

“…81 These factors may also exacerbate pigmentary disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 81 Other environmental factors essential in history taking are the following: (i) history of immersion in water, (ii) mode of transport, (iii) skin exposure to the immediate environment such as the material of the boat, and (iv) other associated substances such as kerosene, petrol, diesel, vapor, fumes, or dust. 81 Mycetoma is a chronic and destructive infection caused by either fungus (eumycetoma or mycotic mycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma).…”

“…Environmental factors play an important part in the pathogenesis of skin conditions. Traveling on foot or by boat or on foot along with prolonged sun exposure can cause any of the following: skin erythema, edema, vesicles, and skin peeling 81 . These factors may also exacerbate pigmentary disorders such as melasma and post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation 81 .…”

“…81 Other environmental factors essential in history taking are the following: (i) history of immersion in water, (ii) mode of transport, (iii) skin exposure to the immediate environment such as the material of the boat, and (iv) other associated substances such as kerosene, petrol, diesel, vapor, fumes, or dust. 81 Mycetoma is a chronic and destructive infection caused by either fungus (eumycetoma or mycotic mycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma). 82 This type of infection has a known geographic distribution, with the highest incidence in equatorial, tropical, and subtropical areas known as the "mycetoma belt," including Sudan, Somalia, Senegal, India, Yemen, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina.…”

“…Traveling on foot or by boat or on foot along with prolonged sun exposure can cause any of the following: skin erythema, edema, vesicles, and skin peeling 81 . These factors may also exacerbate pigmentary disorders such as melasma and post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation 81 . Other environmental factors essential in history taking are the following: (i) history of immersion in water, (ii) mode of transport, (iii) skin exposure to the immediate environment such as the material of the boat, and (iv) other associated substances such as kerosene, petrol, diesel, vapor, fumes, or dust 81 .…”