Skin disease is common in rural Nepal: results of a point prevalence study.
BACKGROUND
Skin problems are the commonest reason for people accessing healthcare services in Nepal but there is little information about the prevalence of skin disease.


OBJECTIVE
To perform a point prevalence study of skin disease in the Terai region of Nepal.


METHODS
Five villages were randomly selected in Bara District in the Terai region of Nepal, and 878 people were examined.


RESULTS
The number of individuals identified as having a skin disease was 546. The point prevalence of identifiable skin abnormalities was 62.2% (546 of 878) (with 95% exact confidence intervals 58.9-65.4%). A wide range of dermatoses was identified. The six most prevalent were dermatophyte infections (11.4%), followed by pityriasis versicolor (8.9%), acne (7.7%), melasma (6.8%), eczema (5.6%) and pityriasis alba (5.2%). Overall, treatable skin infections and infestations were by far the commonest skin diseases identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study has demonstrated a very high point prevalence (62.2%) of skin disease in rural Nepal. This study represents the first formal survey of skin disease in Nepal and demonstrates a large burden of disease, in particular treatable infections.
Walker
S L
SL
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. drstevewalker@hotmail.com
Shah
M
M
Hubbard
V G
VG
Pradhan
H M
HM
Ghimire
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology