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Chapter 82 - The Skin

from Section 11 - Diseases of Body Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2025

By
Bernard Naafs ,
John Masenga ,
Beatrice Amunga Etemesi  and
Tjip S. van der Werf
Edited by
David Mabey ,
Martin W. Weber ,
Moffat Nyirenda ,
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu ,
Jackson Orem ,
Laura Benjamin ,
Michael Marks  and
Nicholas A. Feasey
David Mabey
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Martin W. Weber
Affiliation:
World Health Organization
Moffat Nyirenda
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Affiliation:
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
Jackson Orem
Affiliation:
Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala
Laura Benjamin
Affiliation:
University College London
Michael Marks
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Nicholas A. Feasey
Affiliation:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
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Summary

Although skin diseases do not usually threaten life, their unforgiving itching can cause misery, and their unsightly appearance causes social stigmatization. In sub-Saharan Africa, skin diseases are dominated by bacterial and fungal infections and their clinical expression is often modified by HIV, which has magnified their burden. They account for approximately one-third of the burden of disease (in West European and North American countries, 15%) are among the top five causes of morbidity, leading to 15% of attendance in peripheral health clinics. However, more than 80% do not require specialized expertise to make a diagnosis.

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Principles of Medicine in Africa , pp. 912 - 948
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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