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 underdeveloped aspect of medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: To determine the pattern of skin diseases seen in a sub-Saharan community and to compare it with that seen in a European community. Methods: The diagnoses of the principal presenting complaint of 2254 consecutive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana, are presented and compared with those of 3383 consecutive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of The William Harvey 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 diseases 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%). Psoriasis was more common in the UK (6.2%) than in Ghana (0.4%). In Ghana, fixed drug eruption, mainly due to cotrimoxazole (Septrin), was not rare (27 cases), and complications from cosmetic skin lightening creams were a frequent 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 countries. It is hoped that this study may help to catalyze the further development of dermatology services in Ghana.