title: Skin diseases seen in Kazanchis health center.
abstract: Studies concerning the prevalence of skin diseases and the general dermatologic services in Ethiopia are limited. A total of 7760 patients with 9725 dermatological diseases were seen by a dermatovenereologist from September 1995 to August 1996 at Kazanchis Health center in Addis Ababa. Male to female ratio was 1.01:1.00. Three thousand eighteen (31.0%) of the total 9725 cases had prior evaluation by other health personnel, including doctors (but not dermatologists). Out of these cases, 2720 (90.1%) were misdiagnosed and mismanaged. This high percentage points to the need for further short-term dermatology training for non-dermatologists. Bacterial, fungal and viral infections were dominating, comprising 19.4%, 18.5% and 6.5% of cases respectively. Infestations (i.e., pediculosis and scabies together) represented 10% of cases. Eczemas contributed 18.1% of the total cases. Photoallergic dermatitis (4.5%), Pityriasis alba (4.4%), urticaria (2.2%), prurigo (2%), benign tumors (1.8%), lichen planus (1.6%) and melasma (1.5%) were also quite common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yekatit 12 Hospital, P.O. Box 257, Addis Ababa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiletework
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors