Pattern of Skin Diseases in Patients Attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital
October 2023
in “
Pakistan Armed Forces medical journal
”
TLDR Infections and infestations are the most common skin diseases, and better hygiene education could help reduce them.
The study conducted at the Dermatology OPD of Combined Military Hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, included 8,068 patients and aimed to identify the pattern of skin disorders. The mean age of patients was 29.04 years, with 54.35% aged between 20-40 years. Infections were the most common skin disorder (26.7%), followed by dermatitis and eczematous disorders (22.1%), parasitic diseases (16.6%), and acquired pigmentary disorders (7.2%). Scabies was the most prevalent disease, affecting 15.6% of patients. Overall, infections and infestations accounted for 43.3% of cases. The study suggests that public health education on personal hygiene and dermatological care could reduce the prevalence of skin diseases.