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 Printable version |
Prevalence of skin infections in sheltered homeless of Marseilles (France) |
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 15, Number 5, 382-6, September-October 2005, Clinical report
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 Free Article
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Author(s) : Sékéné Badiaga, Amélie Menard, Hervé Tissot Dupont, Isabelle Ravaux, Didier Chouquet, Céline Graveriau, Didier Raoult, Philippe Brouqui |
Summary : In an attempt to determine the prevalence of various skin infections in the homeless population in Marseilles, France, we undertook a case control study. Cases were recruited among institutionalized homeless subjects during two snapshot investigations conducted in January 2002 and 2003 respectively. The control subjects were recruited from among those who presented at a clinic for pre-travel advice. We recruited 498 cases and 200 control subjects. Compared to control subjects, a significantly higher proportion of cases had skin diseases (38% versus 0.5%\; p <\; 0.0001). Pruritus, body-lice infestation, scratching lesions, folliculitis, tinea pedis, scabies and impetigo (ecthyma) were strongly significantly associated with homelessness. The higher prevalence of skin infections in the homeless people mainly results from the body-louse infestation, scabies, bacterial super-infection of skin surfaces that have been breached by frequent scratching and tinea pedis due to poor foot hygiene. |
Keywords : body louse, ecthyma, homelessness, impetigo, scabies, skin infections |
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