Occupational skin diseases in automotive industry workers.

CONTEXT: Studies on occupational skin diseases in workers of the automotive industry are few. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of occupational skin diseases in workers of the automotive industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September and December 2011, a total of 405 workers from the automotive repair industry in Diyarbakir were interviewed. They were active workers in the repair industry who had been employed for at least six months. Business owners, sellers of spare parts and accounting officers were not included. The employees were examined at their workplaces and the working conditions were observed. Detailed dermatological examination was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 405 workers who participated in the study was 27.7 ± 10.3. The mean working time of employees was 13.3 ± 10.4 years. All of the employees were male. Dermatological diseases were not detected in 144 out of 405 workers (35.6%) and at least one condition was diagnosed in 261 (64.4%). The most frequent diagnosis was callus, hyperkeratosis, clavus (27.7%), followed by nail changes (16.8%) and superficial mycoses (12.1%). Contact dermatitis was seen at a rate of 5.9%. DISCUSSION: Traumatic lesions such as hyperkeratotic lesions and nail changes were found most frequently. Traumatic lesions were common among individuals who did not use gloves. Most nail changes were localized leuconychia, a finding not reported in the studies on automotive industry workers. In accordance with the literature, irritant contact dermatitis was observed in patients with a history of atopy and who had been working for a long time. CONCLUSION: Occupational skin diseases comprise an important field in dermatology, deserving much attention. Further studies on occupational dermatology are necessary.

Prevalence of skin disorders among primary school children in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood dermatoses in Diyarbakir, which is located in the southeastern region of Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study was carried out in April 2008 among students of eight randomly selected public primary schools in Diyarbakir. Students were examined and questionnaire was applied to determine socioeconomic levels and socio-demographic features. RESULTS: A total of 1932 students were examined by dermatologists. Nine hundred and fifty three (49.32%) girls, mean age was 11.06±2.13 (range 6-17). The overall point prevalence of skin disorders was 59.1%. Among this sample 776 children (40.2%) had only one skin disease whereas 299 (15.5%) had two and 67 (3.5%) had at least three. The point prevalence of skin disorders was 33.1% among students in grade 1 and 78.9% among students in grade 8 (p<0.05). The most common skin disease was eczema (32.8%), followed by pigmentation disorders (17.2%), skin infections (13.4%), scalp disorders (10.1%) and acne vulgaris (9.6%). Infectious skin problems, pigmentation disorders, hair and scalp disorders and acne vulgaris were more common among girls compared to boys (p<0.05). In addition, infectious skin problems were more common among boarders (p<0.05) compared to day students. CONCLUSION: Skin disorders affected 59.1% of the studied children. Skin disorders were more common among girls and boarders in this study, this group of children should be given specific attention in formulating preventive measures.

Prevalencia de trastornos de la piel en niños que asisten a la escuela primaria en Diyarbakir, Turquía / Prevalence of skin disorders among primary school children in Diyarbakir, Turkey

Antecedentes. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de dermatosis pediátricas en Diyarbakir, provincia ubicada en la región sudeste de Turquía. Materiales y métodos. Este fue un estudio transversal realizado en abril de 2008 en alumnos que asistían a ocho escuelas primarias públicas de Diyarbakir seleccionadas al azar. Se examinó a los alumnos y se les administró un cuestionario para determinar el nivel socioeconómico y las características sociodemográficas. Resultados. Los dermatólogos evaluaron, en total, a 1932 alumnos. De ellos, 953 (49,32%) eran niñas, con una media de edad de 11,06 ± 2,13 años (rango: 6-17 años). La prevalencia puntual global de trastornos de la piel fue del 59,1%. En esta muestra, 776 niños (40,2%) tenían solamente una enfermedad de la piel, mientras que 299 (15,5%) tenían dos, y 67 (3,5%), al menos tres. La prevalencia puntual de los trastornos de la piel fue del 33,1% en los alumnos de primer grado y del 78,9% en los alumnos de octavo grado (p < 0,05). Las enfermedades de la piel más frecuentes fueron en primer lugar el eccema (32,8%), seguido de los trastornos de la pigmentación (17,2%), las infecciones cutáneas (13,4%), los trastornos del cuero cabelludo (10,1%) y el acné vulgar (9,6%). Las infecciones cutáneas, los trastornos de la pigmentación, los trastornos del cabello y del cuero cabelludo y el acné vulgar fueron mucho más frecuentes en las niñas que en los varones (p < 0,05). Además, las infecciones cutáneas fueron mucho más habituales en los alumnos pupilos que en los medio pupilos (p < 0,05). Conclusión. Los trastornos de la piel afectaron al 59,1% de los niños estudiados, y se observaron con mayor frecuencia en las niñas y en los pupilos. Es necesario prestar mayor atención a estos grupos a la hora de formular medidas preventivas.

Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood dermatoses in Diyarbakir, which is located in the southeastern region of Turkey. Material and Method. This cross-sectional study was carried out in April 2008 among students of eight randomly selected public primary schools in Diyarbakir. Students were examined and questionnaire was applied to determine socioeconomic levels and socio-demographic features. Results. A total of 1932 students were examined by dermatologists. Nine hundred and fifty three (49.32%) girls, mean age was 11.06±2.13 (range 6-17). The overall point prevalence of skin disorders was 59.1%. Among this sample 776 children (40.2%) had only one skin disease whereas 299 (15.5%) had two and 67 (3.5%) had at least three. The point prevalence of skin disorders was 33.1% among students in grade 1 and 78.9% among students in grade 8 (p<0.05). The most common skin disease was eczema (32.8%), followed by pigmentation disorders (17.2%), skin infections (13.4%), scalp disorders (10.1%) and acne vulgaris (9.6%). Infectious skin problems, pigmentation disorders, hair and scalp disorders and acne vulgaris were more common among girls compared to boys (p<0.05). In addition, infectious skin problems were more common among boarders (p<0.05) compared to day students. Conclusion. Skin disorders affected 59.1% of the studied children. Skin disorders were more common among girls and boarders in this study, this group of children should be given specific attention in formulating preventive measures.