The changing pattern of hospital attendance for skin disease in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Hospital clinic attendance pattern is a useful guidse to the prevalence of skin disease in a community. In Sri Lanka few studies have been done in this regard in the past. The present survey was carried out at the dermatollogy clinic at base hospital, Matara and the results are compared with results of earlier studies. A total of 1133 patients were seen in a one-month period in 1992. The major disease group seen were, dermatitis (eszema) 42.6perc., fungal infection 12.9perc.,bacterial infections 3perc.,and acne 2.9perc. The clinic attendence for scabies and bacterial infections have decreased, whereas the attendance for acne and cosmetic dermatological conditions such as dermatosis papulosa nigra, skin tags and keloids have increased, when compared to the previous surveys. These changes may be due to increased awareness of treatable skin conditions, early treatment and greater concern about cosmetic dermatology problems