Abstract
Background: Patients with dermatological patholgies represent an important population, especially in developing countries. The cosmetological aspects are important. Objective: To determine the incidence and epidemiology of skin diseases during a humanitarian mission. Methods: 679 patients who presented to our general medical consultations were examined. Patient data was registered to be analyzed retrospectively. The rare and difficult cases were systematically discussed during the consultation. The patient charts were correlated by the corresponding photos. Results: The ethnic origin of the patients was different. The majority of our patients were younger than 50 years old. The dermatological problems represented a major motivation to consult, namely itching and skin lesions. The incidence was higher when secondary findings and complaints were also considered. Besides scabies, mycosis and tropical pathologies, the problems of scarring represented a major cosmetological demand. Conclusion: Our work demonstrated a high incidence of dermatological pathologies showing the importance of public health issues, screening and an important need of cosmetological treatments. Due to migration, climatic changes and humanitarian missions, the manifestation and occurrence of the dermatological pathologies may be different. Health care providers need a thorough knowledge of community acquired and tropical pathologies.
Highlights
The dermatological problems are frequent in the Western societies, representing up to 12.4% of family medicine visits and an important economic burden, especially when lost work days are considered [1,2].The variety of available cosmetological treatments is important
Our work demonstrated a high incidence of dermatological pathologies showing the importance of public health issues, screening and an important need of cosmetological treatments
The limited access to electricity, drinking water, canalization and health care, cohabitation of several generations in crowded households were common in the area representing important epidemiological factors together with the tropical climate and pathogens [5]
Summary
The dermatological problems are frequent in the Western societies, representing up to 12.4% of family medicine visits and an important economic burden, especially when lost work days are considered [1,2].The variety of available cosmetological treatments is important. In developing and tropical countries the incidence may be higher while access to dermatological diagnostic and therapeutic facilities is reduced or missing, cosmetological treatments and surgery are available only for a small segment of the society. In these countries up to 59% of the patients may have dermatological problems with a value even higher when thorough examination can be achieved by dermatology specialists [3]. The authors report about a population that had no former dermatological care in a developing country. Patients with dermatological patholgies represent an important population, especially in developing countries.
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