What is it about?
The article describes how through an algorithm on common skin diseases, health providers in northern Nigeria can easily diagnose and treat common skin diseases. The providers most consulted by the people are actually patent medicine vendors and traditional herbalists. they were targeted for this intervention, and they were reasonably able to accurately diagnose and draw the right conclusion. Their decisions were validated by 3 skin specialists.
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Why is it important?
Common skin diseases are only a small burden according to the Global Burden of Disease, about 1%. At the health centre level, however, skin problems account for 15-20% of all consultations, representing a high workload. A simple algorithm can help making this task easier.
Perspectives
Having published this article we proceeded with developing a smartphone app on common skin diseases for use in Mozambique. Field tests were positive, and through such common skin diseases approach we hope to also filter out more rare skin diseases, such as leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis. The app also contains skin diseases often encountered in persons with low CD4 counts as in AIDS, and in that way can contribute considerably to improving the quality of life of these persons.
Dr Erik Post
Royal Tropical Institute, Amssterdam
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: First-line health care provider performance in the management of common skin diseases using an algorithmic approach as a diagnostic tool in Kano State, Nigeria, Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine, December 2015, Dove Medical Press,
DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s87600.
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