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The Prevalence of Skin Disease Among School Children in Rural Ethiopia—A Preliminary Assessment of Dermatologic Needs
Author(s) -
Figueroa Jose L,
Fuller L. Claire,
Abraha Aynalem,
Hay Rod J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1470.1996.tb00704.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , disease , environmental health , dermatology , rural area , pediatrics , pathology
It Is always assumed that the prevalence of skin diseases in developing countries is very high, and that infestations and skin Infections are highly endemic in poor rural communities; however, very few epidemiologlc reports verify these assumptions. As part of a continuing Study of dermatologic needs in southwestern Ethiopia, and to estimate the prevalence of treatable skin disease in children, a school survey was undertaken in Shebe. In October 1992,112 children were examined by a team of dermatologists and their conditions were recorded. Twenty‐two children (19.6%) were considered healthy and 90 (80.4%) had one or more skin diseases. A total of 140 conditions were identified and considered treatable in 98% of children. Infestations were the most prevalent skin pathology, 81.2%, followed by fungal infections, 13.4%.