Patterns of skin diseases at the Jordanian Hospital in Gaza

ABSTRACT

To describe the patterns of skin diseases among patients who attended the Dermatology Clinic at the Jordanian Field Hospital in Gaza. This study was conducted at the Dermatology Clinic at the Jordanian Hospital in Gaza during the period between October 2010 to December 2010. A total of 2446 patients were included in the study. Age range varied from newborns to 80 years. A specially designed medical record abstract form was used for each patient separately which included age, gender, source of referral, presentation and diagnosis. Diagnosis was mainly based on clinical back ground, histopathological investigations -if required- and different specialty consultation [Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine]. Simple descriptive statistical methods [frequency, mean and percentage] were used to describe the study variables. Eczema and its variants were the commonest presentation; 738 patients [30.2%], followed by Acne vulgaris; 611 patients [25%], parasitic infections, were diagnosed among 412 patients [16.8%], diffuse hair loss was found among 398 patients [16.3%], fungal infections; 112 patients [4.5%]; 64 [2.6%] patients suffered from bacterial infections and 36 [1.5%] of them were diagnosed to have viral infections. Genodermatoses was the least presentation among 4 patients [0.2%], and 29 patients [1.2%] were referred to Internal Medicine and Psychiatry clinics for more evaluation and management; as their skin manifestations represented a sign of internal disease or it was based on psychiatric disorders. Eczema was the commonest presentation and Genodermatoses were the least common presentation at the Jordanian Field Hospital in Gaza