Skin problems in children under five years old at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia
10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.05.009
- Author:
José Manuel RAMOS
1
;
Dalu TESSEMA
1
;
Mubarack KEDIR
1
;
Gamadi SAFAYO
1
;
Abraham TESFASMARIAM
1
;
Francisco REYES
1
;
José Manuel RAMOS
2
;
José Manuel RAMOS
3
;
Paula MOLÉS-POVEDA
4
;
Isabel BELINCHÓN
5
Author Information
1. Department of Paediatrics and General Medicine, Gambo General Rural Hospital
2. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
3. Department of Clinical Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche
4. Department of Dermatology, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova
5. Department of Dermatology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Children;
Impetigo;
Scabies;
Skin problem;
Under five years
- From:Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
2016;6(7):625-629
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To examine the prevalence of cutaneous disorders in children under 5 years old who attended a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 26 to February 20, 2015 in children under 5 years old who attended Gambo Rural Hospital in West Arsi of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Results A total of 324 children were included (59.6% male) whose median age was 16.4 months. In total, 147 children [45.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 40.0%–50.8%] under 5 years had a skin problem, of which 101 (68.7%) consulted for that reason. The other 46 (31.3%) consulted for a general health problem and the dermatological condition was a secondary finding during the physical exploration. In 93 children (28.7%; 95% CI: 20%–33.8%), it was the main disease, and in 54 children (16.5%; 95% CI: 13.0%–21.1%) it was concomitant with other diseases. The most common dermatological disease was scabies (n = 44, 13.6%; 95% CI: 10.3%–17.7%). Impetigo was diagnosed in 32 children (9.9%; 95% CI: 7.1%–13.3%), of which 23 (71.9%) had complicated impetigo. Nineteen children (5.9%; 95% CI: 3.8%–9.0%) had eczema, 10 (3.1%) had eczema associated to other conditions. The following most frequent skin problems were tinea (n = 9; 2.8%), infected wound and ulcer (n = 7; 2.2%), and burns (n = 6; 1.9%). Conclusions Skin problems, mainly scabies, impetigo, and eczema were common in young children attended at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Children under 5 years should be examined thoroughly to rule out skin diseases, especially scabies.