Prevalence of skin diseases among school children: a survey in the Sohag Governorate

Background Skin diseases are common in children. Epidemiologic studies of skin diseases in school children performed by direct inspection by dermatologists are limited in Egypt. Objective We aimed, in the current study, to determine the pattern and the prevalence of skin disorders among school children from rural and urban communities in the Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt. Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out in March and April 2009 in a random sampling method from three preschools and primary schools, from an urban, a rural, and a slum area. A total of 1804 children aged 4–12 years were examined. Results The age of the selected individuals ranged between 4 and 12 years, with a mean age of 8 ± 3.4 years, and the male to female ratio was 5.1 : 4.9. Skin disorders were observed in 748 children, yielding an overall prevalence of 41.5%, and 1056 (58.5%) were clinically free from disease. Pediculosis capitis, pityriasis alba, papular urticaria, and chicken pox were the most commonly observed, accounting for 67.4% of the disorders. Infectious skin diseases represented 59.1% of the skin disorders. Rural residency, older age, female sex, overcrowding, and a low socioeconomic status were the significant risk factors. Only 19.5% of the children with skin diseases had sought medical advice. Conclusion There was a higher prevalence of infectious skin disorders among school children in the Sohag Governorate, with pediculosis capitis being the most common disorder. Lack of medical intervention reported by symptomatic students was unexpectedly high. Therefore, it is useful to monitor the epidemiology of skin problems in children so that relevant skin health education programs and preventive measures can be planned and implemented effectively.