The Comparison of Skin Infectious Diseases Pattern in 1998 With 2011

Background: Skin infectious diseases are common worldwide. Epidemiologic studies lead to better understanding of disease profiles and health service organization. Objectives:: This study aimed at comparing skin infections status in 1998 and 2011. Materials and Methods: Data on all otherwise healthy outpatients with diagnosis of skin infections in 1998 and 2011 were reviewed. Data on demographic characteristics and clinical diagnosis were recorded. According to the microbial origin, all infected dermatoses were classified into four groups: bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic. At the end of the study, data were analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: Mean age of patients in 1998 and 2011 were 24.52 and 25.75, respectively. Fungal infections comprised 4.4% of total diagnosed skin disorders in 1998 and 3.1% in 2011, viral infections were 3.1% in 1998 and 3.2% in 2011, bacterial infections were 1.2% in 1998 and 1.1% in 2011 and parasitic infections were 3% in 1998 and 0.64 in 2011. Totally cutaneous infectious diseases comprised 11.7% in 1998 and 8.04% in 2011of all skin diseases in two comparative years. The most common infections were fungal followed by viral infections during both years. Conclusions: In our study fungal and viral infections were the most common infectious diseases. We think epidemiological studies to determine the burden of skin infections are useful for proper health care planning.