ABSTRACT
The use of digital cameras by clinicians is increasing, and raises issues concerning patient consent and confidentiality. An online survey of members of the British Association of Dermatologists was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire. In total, 339 individuals completed the survey, a response rate of 37.6%. The survey shows that there are variations in the type of consent obtained by clinicians taking digital images of patients, and the methods used to store images are not always compliant with current UK legislation. Guidelines would help to improve and standardize the practice of clinicians who take digital images of patients.
Subject(s)
Confidentiality/legislation & jurisprudence , Dermatology/legislation & jurisprudence , Informed Consent/legislation & jurisprudence , Photography/legislation & jurisprudence , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Attitude of Health Personnel , Dermatology/instrumentation , Female , Guideline Adherence , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Male , Photography/instrumentation , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Surveys and Questionnaires , United KingdomABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Skin problems are the commonest reason for people accessing healthcare services in Nepal but there is little information about the prevalence of skin disease. OBJECTIVES: To perform a point prevalence study of skin disease in the Terai region of Nepal. METHODS: Five villages were randomly selected in Bara District in the Terai region of Nepal, and 878 people were examined. RESULTS: The number of individuals identified as having a skin disease was 546. The point prevalence of identifiable skin abnormalities was 62.2% (546 of 878) (with 95% exact confidence intervals 58.9-65.4%). A wide range of dermatoses was identified. The six most prevalent were dermatophyte infections (11.4%), followed by pityriasis versicolor (8.9%), acne (7.7%), melasma (6.8%), eczema (5.6%) and pityriasis alba (5.2%). Overall, treatable skin infections and infestations were by far the commonest skin diseases identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has demonstrated a very high point prevalence (62.2%) of skin disease in rural Nepal. This study represents the first formal survey of skin disease in Nepal and demonstrates a large burden of disease, in particular treatable infections.
Subject(s)
Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Nepal/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rural Health , Skin Diseases, Infectious/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is limited dermatologic training available for healthcare workers in Nepal. METHODS: We visited a rural area of western Nepal to set up a pilot program of dermatologic teaching. This consisted of 2 days of interactive lectures, followed by 2 days of practical dermatology in the clinic. RESULTS: After the theoretical training, the overall accuracy of the diagnoses made by the attendees was high at 79%. All trainees felt that the program had been useful. The most common conditions seen were eczema and skin infection. CONCLUSION: We aim to expand this dermatologic training program in western Nepal in the future.
Subject(s)
Dermatology/education , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Acne Vulgaris/diagnosis , Clinical Competence/standards , Dermatology/methods , Eczema/diagnosis , Health Personnel/education , Health Personnel/standards , Humans , Nepal , Pilot Projects , Program Evaluation , Tinea Capitis/diagnosisABSTRACT
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is frequently associated with constitutional symptoms as part of a nonspecific inflammatory response. However, extracutaneous discrete aseptic neutrophilic infiltrates are extremely rare. We report a patient with idiopathic PG with splenic and psoas muscle involvement. His disease was extremely aggressive and was unresponsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. His cutaneous and extracutaneous PG cleared with infliximab and adalimumab.
