SKIN AND TREPONEMAL DISEASES AMONG ASIAN DOMESTIC HOUSE-HELPERS IN NORTHERN SAUDI-ARABIA

Background Asian domestic house-helpers in Saudi Arabia come from a di fferent socioeconomic setting with a different disease pattern from th at of their host country. This study reports the incidence of skin and treponemal diseases in this group seen at a referral hospital in nort hern Saudi Arabia. Methods The study was based on the analysis of the dermatologic and serologic examinations of 1520 domestic house-helpers during resident permit issue, and a retrospective study of clinical r ecords of house-helpers with skin disorders. Results Routine examinati on revealed significant skin disease in 374 (24.6%) individuals, and t he disease was transmissible in 126 (8.3%). Treponemal infection (5, 0 .3%) and leprosy (1, 0.07%) were seen. Hand dermatitis and chicken pox were the most common causes of hospital attendance. Psychologic skin disorders included three cases of neurotic excoriations, two cases of delusion of parasitosis, and a case of dermatitis artefacta. Conclusio ns The prevalence of transmissible skin diseases in Asian domestic hou se-helpers is low compared with that in their home countries. Excludin g individuals with stigmata of atopic dermatitis from employment as ho use-helpers, adequate counselling will reduce the incidence of hand de rmatitis and psychologic skin disorders. There is a need for continuou s surveillance to prevent the introduction of skin diseases not normal ly seen in the native population.