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Skin and treponemal diseases among Asian domestic house‐helpers in northern Saudi Arabia
Author(s) -
Kubeyinje Emmanuel P.,
Belagavi Charalingappa S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00296.x
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , atopic dermatitis , disease , population , dermatology , seborrheic dermatitis , environmental health , pathology , physics , optics
Background Asian domestic house‐helpers in Saudi Arabia come from a different socioeconomic setting with a different disease pattern from that of their host country. This study reports the incidence of skin and treponemal diseases in this group seen at a referral hospital in northern Saudi Arabia. Methods The study was based on the analysis of the dermatologic and serologic examinations of 1520 domestic house‐helpers during resident permit issue, and a retrospective study of clinical records of house‐helpers with skin disorders. Results Routine examination revealed significant skin disease in 374 (24.6%) individuals, and the disease was transmissible in 126 (8.3%). Treponemal infection (5, 0.3%) and leprosy (1, 0.07%) were seen. Hand dermatitis and chicken pox were the most common causes of hospital attendance. Psychologic skin disorders included three cases of neurotic excoriations, two cases of delusion of parasitosis, and a case of dermatitis artefacta. Conclusions The prevalence of transmissible skin diseases in Asian domestic house‐helpers is low compared with that in their home countries. Excluding individuals with stigmata of atopic dermatitis from employment as house‐helpers, adequate counselling will reduce the incidence of hand dermatitis and psychologic skin disorders. There is a need for continuous surveillance to prevent the introduction of skin diseases not normally seen in the native population.