Prevalence of Skin Diseases among Primary School Children in Three Semi Urban Communities in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Community Based Study

Abstract

Background: Skin diseases are common among children in the developing countries in Sub Saharan Africa where there is low level of hygiene, overcrowding and warm humid climates.  However, there are no known community based studies on the prevalence of skin diseases among primary school children in Rivers State, Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of skin diseases among primary school children in three semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA in Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in five public primary schools in three semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA over a three months period from September to November 2017.  Five hundred and twenty four children were recruited for the study from the selected schools. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographics and a team of investigators examined each child for evidence of skin diseases. Results: There were 263 (50.2%) males and 261 (49.8%) females, with male to female ratio of 1.01: 1. Their ages ranged between 5 to 16 years, with a mean age of 9.5±2.22 years. The prevalence of skin lesions among the children was 35.3% (185/524). Skin infections, inflammatory dermatitis and other skin lesions accounted for 39.5%, 14.1% and 46.5% respectively of the skin diseases. The most prevalent specific skin disease found was Dermatophyte infection in 50 (27.0%) children, followed by Xerosis 21 (11.4%). Tinea capitis was the most common (52.1%) skin infection. The commonest inflammatory dermatitis found was Seborrheic dermatitis 53.8%. Age had no significant influence on the prevalence of skin infections (p=0.711). Conclusion: The prevalence of skin diseases was high among primary school children in the semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA and Dermatophyte infection accounted for more than a quarter of the  skin diseases found. Maybe regular inspection of the skin of primary school children by health professionals and teachers should be done in order to reduce the spread of infectious skin diseases within the schools.