A prevalence survey of skin diseases in Nigerian children.

A prevalence survey of 5001 Nigerian children aged 0-12 years seen at the Urban Comprehensive Health Centre, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between July 1995 and June 1996 revealed that 492 children (9.8%) had dermatological conditions. Tinea (17.1%), scabies (16.5%) and impetigo (15.7%) were the most commonly observed childhood skin diseases and were followed by miliaria (9.8%), eczema (7.1%) and diaper dermatitis (7.0%) respectively. The major predisposing factor to acquiring either tinea infection or scabies or impetigo by any of the affected children was the low socioeconomic conditions of their parents. The high prevalence of eczema in the high social classes could be attributed to the early exposure of the children to artificial milk in infancy. It is hoped that aggressive health educational programmes and improvement of the socioeconomic status of the people will bring about a decline in the prevalence of childhood skin diseases in Nigeria.