Leprosy in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

A study was conducted to establish age and sex distribution of leprosy, the type, incidence and prevalence of this disease and the outcome of control measures. From January 1983 to December 1986, 185 consecutive new leprosy patients were diagnosed by consultant dermatologists of the Ministry of Health in the Eastern Province. Of the patients, 71 were Saudis and 114 non-Saudis, 88 came from South India, ten from Sri Lanka, seven from Thailand, three from the Philippines. two from Yemen and one each from Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea and Indonesia. Among the Saudis men outnumbered women in the ratio of 3:1, with a mean age 32.2 years and range of 8-80 years. In the non-Saudi patients men outnumbered women in the ratio of 15:1, with a mean age of 35.6 years and range of 9-57 years. Overall, the disease was more prevalent in the age-group 21-40 years, although other age-groups were also affected. Tuberculoid leprosy was significantly more common in Saudi than in non-Saudi patients [0.01

Scalp fungus infections in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Five hundred fifty prepubescent suspected cases of tine capitis were examined during the period April 1984 to March 1987. Saudi patients comprised 84.0% of the examined cases. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination in 507 cases [92.2%] and by culture in 442 cases [447isolatd]. Microsporum canis was the commonest agent of tinea capitis, causing 253 infections [56.6% of the 447 isolated]. Next in frequency were Trichophyton violaceum [137 or 30.6%], M. audouinii [38 or 8.5%], T. mentagrophytes [18 or 4.0%], and M. ferrugineum [1 or 0.2%]. Treatment with oral griseofulvin [10 to 15 mg/kg/day] for 2 to 3 months combined with a topical imidazole agent [clotrimazole or micronazole] was effective in all positive cases. Patients with kerion required treatment with oral penicillin in addition to griseofulvin

Tinea versicolor in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia

A total of 1150 clinically suspected cases of tinea versicolor were examined in Dammam central Hospital in a Geographic region where many predisposing factors exist. Saudi patients comprised 66.8% of the examined cases. Both sexes were equally represented, and their ages ranged from 1 month to 65 years. The duration of the disease ranged from 1 week to 20 years. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by examination of the patients under Wood's light and by direct microscopy of skin scrapings in 1102 cases [95.8%]. Treatment by topical antifungal imidazole agents [clotrimazole or miconazole derivatives], selenium sulfide suspension, or oral ketoconazole was applied, depending on microscope findings, and yielded varying results