Types of Skin Disease and Their Causes

Abstract

Aetiology of disease is the study of the causation of disease or the science associated with the cause of the disease. Disease aetiology is classified into three categories: intrinsic, extrinsic and idiopathic. Epidermal parasitic skin diseases (EPSDs) are among the commonest skin disorders in developing countries. Six of these diseases are included in the WHO neglected disease category. Prevailing conditions such as poor sanitation, lack of resources and infrastructure, existing climatic conditions and lack of knowledge about disease aetiology, prevention and control play an important role in outcomes of EPSDs. Understanding the aetiology of skin diseases including epidermal parasitic diseases, bacterial, viral, and papulosquamous infections is crucial in the fight against these diseases. EPSDs affect mainly poor populations and have been termed diseases of poverty. There are also other predisposing conditions that have allowed skin diseases to flourish in resource poor countries, including ambient temperatures, environment and quality of nutrition. The existence of poverty and predisposing conditions in resource poor countries has made these populations vulnerable to many diseases. The role of limited primary healthcare and the frequency of other infections should not be underestimated.