The Pattern of Dermatological Disorders among Patients Attending the Skin O.P.D of A Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, India.

Abstract

Pattern of skin diseases vary from region to region. Types of skin diseases are influenced by various factors and the consequent morbidities have a profound effect on individual and the community. An observational cross-sectional hospital based study was carried out in the dermatology outpatient department of Calcutta National Medical College, India to find out the pattern of skin diseases and its socio-demographic and environmental correlates. Maximum number of study population was aged 15-24 years (35.6%) and female gender (51.5%). Scabies was most common infectious type (20.4%) and acne (12.4%) was most common noninfectious dermatoses among the study population. Tinea and Acne most commonly recurred among the study population. Maintenance of personal hygiene (71.3%) and sufficient availability of water at household level (91.8%) were more among non-infectious group of patients in comparison to infectious group. Socio-economic status, tobacco use, over-crowding and positive history of contact were significantly associated with infectious type of dermatoses. Health education especially interpersonal communication can alleviate some of the miseries of dermatoses in individual and community.