Skin diseases in Ghana and the UK

Background Although diseases of the skin have been studied in some African countries, the provision of dermatology services is as yet a relatively und erdeveloped aspect of medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective To determine the pattern of skin diseases seen In a sub-Saharan c ommunity and to compare It with that seen in a European community. Methods The diagnoses of the principal presenting complaint of 2254 consecu tive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching H ospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana, are presented and compared with those of 338 3 consecutive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of The William Ha rvey Hospital (WHH), Ashford, Kent, UK. Results The most common conditions in Ghana were infections (46.3%; UK, 12% ). In the UK, the most common conditions were malignant and premalignant di seases of the skin (22.2%; Ghana, 0.5%) and benign tumors (16.8%; Ghana, 0. 5%). Dermatitis was common in both countries (Ghana, 18.4%; UK, 16.0%). Pso riasis was more common in the UK (6.2%) than in Ghana (0.4%). In Ghana, fix ed drug eruption, mainly due to cotrimoxazole (Septrin), was not rare (27 c ases), and complications from cosmetic skin lightening creams were a freque nt problem among women (86 cases), No cases of rosacea were found In Ghana, but it was not uncommon in the UK (1.6%). Conclusions The patterns of skin diseases are different in the two countrie s. It is hoped that this study may help to catalyze the further development of dermatology services in Ghana.