Survey of infectious skin diseases and skin infestations among primary school students of Taitung County, eastern Taiwan

Background: There are no complete records on the prevalence of childhood sk in diseases in Taiwan. We conducted a survey of infectious skin diseases an d skin infestations among primary school children in Taitung County, which is located in southeastern Taiwan. Methods: From March 1998 through October 1998, a total of 3.029 students fr om four rural districts (Changbin, Yanping, Lanyu, and Dawu) and one urban area (Taitung City of Taitung County) were examined by dermatologists. Trea tment and instructions for disease care were given immediately after the di agnosis of dermatoses;, when;appropriate. Results: The most common infectious skin diseases and infestations were ped iculosis capitis (12.9%), verruca vulgaris (5.1%), tinea versicolor (4.4%), tinea pedis (4.1%). verruca plantaris (1.8%), and scabies (1.4%). Most ski n diseases, including pediculosis capitis, scabies, verruca vulgaris, verru ca plantaris, folliculitis, pyoderma, tinea pedis, and tinea versicolor. we re significantly more common in rural areas than in the urban area (p < 0.0 5 for all). Pediculosis capitis was more common among girls (p < 0.001), bu t tinea pedis and tinea versicolor were more common among bets (p<0.05). Conclusions; The prevalence of most skin infections and infestations are mu ch higher in rural Taitung County than in Taitung City. Prevention and trea tment of these skin diseases should be reemphasized in the education of tea chers, as well as students and their families. Adequate dermatologic traini ng of nurses and physicians and the development of teleconsultation and tel edermatology in rural areas might deer-ease the prevalence of these skin di seases in school children.