A Statistical Study of Dermatoses in Wonju (2005~2009)

Lee, Hae Jin; Choi, Soo In; Ahn, Sung Ku

Abstract

BACKGROUND
While the incidence of skin diseases in our university hospital may not indicate their true incidence in the population, it nonetheless represents the only available source of information. Recently, the composition of the Wonju population has changed rapidly in that the population of old people is increasing and urbanization is accelerating. Thus, statistical study of the latest data is necessary.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of common dermatoses and compare this with previous reports.
METHODS
We reviewed 27,718 new outpatients who visited the department of dermatology at Wonju Christian Hospital from 2005 to 2009, and statistically analyzed the findings.
RESULTS
The study results are summarized as follows: Of the 27,718 outpatients, the total number of male patients was 14,190 (51.2%), and the numbers of female patients was 13,528 (48.8%). The most frequent age groups were the fifth decade (15.9%), sixth decade (13.9%), seventh decade (13.2%), and fourth decade (12.5). The 20 most common dermatoses were dermatophytosis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, other eczema, verruca, alopecia, herpes zoster, pruritus, psoriasis, drug eruption, vitiligo, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, benign epidermal tumors, nevocellular nevus, irritant contact dermatitis, bacterial diseases, and rosacea. The dermatoses which revealed a decreasing tendency to be treated by medicine included dermatophytosis, atopic dermatitis, other eczema, pruritus, psoriasis, drug eruption, vitiligo, acne, and irritant contact dermatitis. An increasing tendency was noted in urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, verruca, alopecia, herpes zoster, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, benign epidermal tumor and nevocellular nevus. Diseases with high seasonal distribution in summer were dermatophytosis, herpes zoster, vitiligo, folliculitis, irritant contact dermatitis and bacterial infections. However, atopic dermatitis, pruritus, and psoriasis showed high incidence in the winter period. Verruca, acne and nevocellular nevus had a peak incidence in both summer and winter.
CONCLUSION
The distinct characteristic of skin diseases of the Gangwon province was a high incidence of pruritus and seborrheic dermatitis which represent the senile diseases.