RESUMO
To determine the frequency of skin infections and predictors in elderly patients in Karachi. The study design was cross sectional, carried out among patients who attended OPD of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, North Nazimabad, Institute of Skin Diseases, Saddar and, Steel Town from May 2012 till July 2012. The sample size was 210 and diagnosis of cutaneous diseases were made by an expert dermatologist on the basis of history and clinical examination, which was recorded on a questionnaire which included data on the demographic profile type of skin infection and cause of skin infection, age, gender, occupation and socioeconomic status. Data was entered and all analysis was conducted on SPSS Version 16.0. In the Age Group 60-65 yrs, most commonly found diseases were scabies 15.5%, fungal infections 13.6% and eczema 6.4% whereas above 65yrs the disease frequency was less and reported as scabies 8.6%, fungal infections 5.9% and eczema and xerosis 3.6%. Scabies, fungal infection and eczema were most commonly found in both the categories of elderly age groups. A declining trend of infectious diseases was seen when comparing higher socioeconomic group with those of lower and middle ones. In affluent class, the focus of diseases shifts to Psoriasis, viral infections and pruritis instead of scabies indicating increased level of stress and other potentiating factors