Skin diseases in pediatric patients attending a tertiary dermatology hospital in Northern Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundSkin diseases affect 21–87 % of children in developing countries in Africa. However, the spectrum of the skin diseases varies from region to region due to several factors such as genetics, socioeconomic and environmental. The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of childhood skin diseases in Tanzania.MethodsWe conducted a prospective hospital- based cross-sectional study between September 2012 and August 2013 at a tertiary referral dermatology clinic. Children younger than 14 years presenting with new skin conditions were recruited. Diagnosis was mainly done clinically, but if the diagnosis was not clinically clear, further investigations were undertaken accordingly.ResultsA total of 340 patients were recruited of which 56 (16.5 %) had more than one skin condition. Both genders were equally affected. Infections and infestations accounted for the majority (43.5 %, n = 177) of the skin conditions followed by eczematous dermatitis (28.5 %, n = 116) and pigmentary disorders (7.4 %, n = 30). Among the 152 infectious skin diseases, fungal infections predominated (50.7 %, n = 77) in the infectious group followed by bacterial (29.6 %, n = 45), and viral (19.7 %, n = 30).ConclusionsSkin infections are still the main cause of dermatological consultations in children although with a reduced prevalence. Inflammatory skin conditions are increasing and can be attributed to improved socioeconomic status and HIV pandemic.

Prevalence of papular urticaria caused by flea bites and associated factors in children 1–6 years of age in Bogotá, D.C.

“…In Nigerian was reported a frequency of 14.6% in children with papular urticaria attending a dermatology clinic during 2008 [ 9 ]. Also, countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, and Tanzania has described frequencies of 1.99%, 2.3%, and 5.6%, respectively [ 10 – 12 ]. Overall, these studies established the frequency of dermatologic diseases in a hospital setting instead of a population level.…”

Bacterial Skin Infections in Children

“…Sıcak ve nemli iklim, kötü hijyenik koşullar, kalabalık ortamlar predispoze faktörlerdir (5). Bu nedenle tropikal bölgelerde ve azgelişmiş ya da gelişmekte olan ülkelerde daha sıktır (5)(6)(7). BDE insidansı, oranları ve kliniği ülkeden ülkeye, kıtadan kıtaya farklılık gösterebilir (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…Bu nedenle tropikal bölgelerde ve azgelişmiş ya da gelişmekte olan ülkelerde daha sıktır (5)(6)(7). BDE insidansı, oranları ve kliniği ülkeden ülkeye, kıtadan kıtaya farklılık gösterebilir (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Yapılan araştırmalarda çocuklarda BDE'lerin prevalansı dünyada % 0.6-58 arasında, ülkemizde ise %3.4-8.1 arasında değişmektedir (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

“…Follikülitin daha agresif formu olan fronkülü araştırmamızda 12 olguda (%8.8) saptadık. Bazı yazarlar %2 gibi düşük oranda saptarken, bazıları da %22.9-38 gibi yüksek oranlarda saptamışlardır (7,10,(23)(24)(25)(26). Sıklıkla boyun, meme, kasık, burun kavitesi, saçlı deri, dış kulak yolunu tutan bu hastalık bu bölgelerdeki kronik stafilokok taşıyıcılığı ile ilişkilidir (2).…”

Pattern of Children Hospitalization in a Tropical Dermatology Department: Case of the Teaching Hospital of Conakry (Guinea)

“…5 Kiprono et al reported in a study in northern Tanzania, an HIV prevalence of 5.8% in children with skin diseases. 6 To date, no data concerning the reasons for hospitalization of children in dermatological settings are available in Guinea.…”