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Skin disease in the first two years of life in Aboriginal children in East Arnhem Land
Author(s) -
McMeniman Erin,
Holden Libby,
Kearns Therese,
Clucas Danielle B,
Carapetis Jonathan R,
Currie Bart J,
Connors Christine,
Andrews Ross M
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2011.00806.x
Subject(s) - impetigo , medicine , scabies , pediatrics , disease , presentation (obstetrics) , north east , medical record , skin infection , dermatology , surgery , staphylococcus aureus , ethnology , genetics , biology , bacteria , history
Background: The most common skin infections affecting children in remote Aboriginal communities are scabies and impetigo. Group A streptococcal skin infections are linked to the high rates of heart and renal disease occurring in Aboriginal Australians. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted in a primary health care centre in the East Arnhem region of the Northern Territory. Data was collected from all presentations to the clinic in the first 2 years of life for 99 children born between 2001 and 2005 as a component of the East Arnhem Regional Healthy Skin Project. Results: The median number of presentations to the clinic in the first 2 years of life was 32. Skin disease was recorded in 22% of all presentations. By 1 year of age 82% of children had presented to the clinic with their first episode of impetigo and 68% with their first episode of scabies. Antibiotics were administered to 49% of children with impetigo. Conclusion: Skin infections are a major reason for presentation to primary health clinics and contribute to the high disease burden experienced by children in the first 2 years of life. This high frequency of presentation provides multiple opportunities for intervention and monitoring.