The Spectrum of Dermatoses among Prisoners; A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background Skin diseases in underprivileged populations are under-estimated. Prisons may harbour several dermatoses due to congestion and neglected hygienic conditions of their inhabitants. This may further aggravate their misery and psychological health. No study addressing skin disorders in this population has been conducted in our part of the world.   Objective To analyse the pattern of various skin disorders among prison inmates. Methods Clinical data of male prisoners of Central Jail Lahore seen from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analysed in this cross-sectional study. Frequencies and patterns of their skin diseases were studied and grouped according to their ages. Results A total of 194 inmates were seen. The most commonly observed skin disease was scabies, followed by tinea pedis and acne. The mean age of the patients was 41.78 ± 10.9 years. Most (57.2%) of the patients were less than 40 years of age. The frequencies of skin disorders observed were as follows: Infections and infestations (53.1%), Eczematous Disorders (23.2%), Autoimmune Disorders (5.7%), Disorders of pigmentation and solar damage (3.6%) and Miscellaneous diseases (14.4%). Among infections, scabies was most frequently seen (42.8%), followed by fungal (38.8%), viral (12.6%) and bacterial infections (5.8%). Conclusion Infestations and infections are the commonest dermatological conditions observed among inmates, probably due to overcrowding and poor hygienic conditions prevalent in jails. Keywords Dermatoses, jail inmates, scabies.