BRIEF REPORT Skin diseases in Turkish soldiers Sezai Sasmaz 1 , * , Mustafa Celik 2 1 Department of Dermatology, Balikesir University, School of Medicine, Balikesir, Turkey 2 Department of Family Medicine, KSU Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras, Turkey article info Article history: Received: Jun 22, 2010 Revised: Oct 8, 2010 Accepted: Feb 1, 2011 Keywords: Epidemiology Kahramanmaras Military Skin disease Soldier Turkey abstract This study aimed to determine the prevalence of skin diseases among soldiers who were assigned duties in Kahramanmaras, a province of east Mediterranean region of Turkey. One hundred eighty-eight soldiers were assessed for skin diseases by a complete dermatological examination and the findings were recorded to a form. Apart from the low number of older ones, the soldiers were of 20e22 years. The diagnosis of superficial fungal infections was made by the use of potassium hydroxide preparations in addition to clinical appearance. On completion of the study period, the data were evaluated, and patients were grouped. Pitted keratolysis was the primary dermatologic disease in 34.5% of the soldiers, 29.2% were diagnosed with oral candidiasis, and 25.5% suffered from tinea pedis. Among the soldiers suffering from a cutaneous disease, dyshidrotic eczema (18.6%), intertrigo (excluding candidal intertrigo) (17%), acne (17%), seborrheic dermatitis (14.9%), plantar hyperkeratosis (14.3%), contact dermatitis (13.8%), and folliculitis (12.2%) were the other most frequent dermatoses. Other less frequent dermatoses were asteatotic eczema, callus, onychomycosis, traumatic onychodystrophy, and so on. We conclude that the prevalence of skin diseases in soldiers is very high and is one of the major public health problems that have a significant burden on our nation. Copyright Ó 2011, Taiwanese Dermatological Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. Introduction Dermatological diseases have been a universal problem in military deployment as well, but few epidemiological reports on the prev- alence of skin disease in military personnel exist. 1 In this study, we detected the high frequency of skin diseases in the soldiers in our region. Methods One hundred eighty-eight soldiers were evaluated for skin disor- ders in 2 days. All participants were then asked about any skin problems that they might have and subsequently all were exam- ined by two dermatologists and a family physician experienced in dermatologic cases regardless of their response. Information regarding age and the presenting disorders was recorded. Diagnosis of various skin conditions was based generally on characteristic clinical features, but the diagnosis of mycoses was confirmed by potassium hydroxide preparation. All diagnoses were made by the consensus of the commission. On completion of the study period, the data were evaluated. A total of 36 dermatologic disease entities were categorized. Statistical analysis Data were expressed as mean values Æ standard deviation, range, or as number of subjects and percentages. Analyses were performed by using SPSS software, version 9.05 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results All participants were male and in the age range of 20e31 years (mean age: 21.5 Æ 1.85). Military service durations varied from 1 to 24 months (mean duration 7.94 Æ 3.85 months). The overall prev- alence of one or more identifiable/apparent skin conditions was 97.3% (183 soldiers). The most common skin diseases requiring medical therapy and their respective prevalence were superficial fungal infections (51.5%), pitted keratolysis (34.5%), and dyshidrotic eczema (18.6%). Intertrigo and acne were each seen in 32 (17%) patients, 27 (14.3%) patients suffered from plantar hyperkeratosis, and 26 (13.8%) patients presented with contact dermatitis (Table 1). * Corresponding author. Department of Dermatology, Balikesir University, School of Medicine, Balikesir 10145, Turkey. E-mail address: drsasmaz@gmail.com (S. Sasmaz). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Dermatologica Sinica journal homepage: http://www.derm-sinica.com 1027-8117/$ e see front matter Copyright Ó 2011, Taiwanese Dermatological Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.dsi.2011.05.001 DERMATOLOGICA SINICA 29 (2011) 44e46