Review Article
Year: 2018 | Month: January | Volume: 8 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 235-248
Dermatologic Practice Review of Common Skin Diseases in Nigeria
Eshan Henshaw1, Perpetua Ibekwe2, Adedayo Adeyemi3, Soter Ameh4, Evelyn Ogedegbe5, Joseph Archibong1, Olayinka Olasode6
1Department of Internal Medicine, 4Department of Community Medicine,
University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
2University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, 3Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Evaluation, 5Cedarcrest Hospitals Abuja, Abuja Nigeria
6Department of Dermatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Eshan Henshaw
ABSTRACT
Objective: Dermatology is a relatively novel medical specialty in Nigeria, requiring a needs assessment to ensure optimal provision of dermatologic care to the general public. While several authors have catalogued the pattern of skin diseases in their respective regions of practice, none can be said to provide a panoramic representation of the general pattern in Nigeria. This article reviews and synthesizes findings from existing studies on the pattern of skin diseases in Nigeria published from January 2000 to December 2016, with the aim of presenting a unified data on the common dermatoses in Nigeria.
Methods: Electronic and hand searches of articles reporting on the general pattern of skin diseases in Nigeria, published between the years 2000 and 2016 was performed. Eleven articles met the criteria for inclusion, two of which were merged into one, as they were products of a single survey. Thus ten studies were systematically reviewed and analysed.
Results: A cumulative total of 16,151 patients were seen, among which one hundred and twenty two (122) specific diagnoses were assessed. The ten leading dermatoses in descending order of relative frequencies were: atopic dermatitis, tinea, acne, contact dermatitis, urticaria, seborrheic dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, vitiligo, human papilloma virus infections, and adverse cutaneous drug reactions. Dermatitis/Eczema formed the most common group (28.36%), closely followed by infections (25.34%). Atopic dermatitis, acne, and contact dermatitis were more prevalent in the north, with tinea and vitiligo more common in the south, and these were all statistically significant.
Conclusion: A vast array of dermatoses present to the dermatologist in Nigeria, ten of which account for half the frequency of consultations, and most of which are treatable. This information allows for strategic planning and targeted training and provision of requisite manpower needs in a resource challenged country such as Nigeria, particularly as regards community dermatology.
Key words: Skin diseases, Common dermatoses, Nigeria.