Pattern of Dermatoses Among Nicobarese in a Community Health Camp at Nancowry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

BACKGROUND: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands to the east of the Indian mainland. The Nicobar district in its southern part includes the Nancowry group. Very little is known about the dermatoses in this remote region and hence, this study was carried out at a community medical camp held in Kamorta on November 12, 2014. AIMS: To study the pattern of dermatoses in Nicobarese attending a community medical camp at Nancowry. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All Nicobarese, predominantly mongoloid, attending a multi-specialty community medical camp at Kamorta on November 12, 2014, were initially seen by a general practitioner. Persons with dermatologic complaints or the presence of skin lesions were then seen by a single dermatologist. RESULTS: A total of 375 patients were seen. Out of these, 113 cases (30.13%) had a skin disorder. Females comprised 50.44% and males 49.56% of the cases. The mean age was 21.28 years. The most common dermatoses were infections and infestations comprising 53 cases (46.9%) of which fungal infections were seen in 25 cases (22.12%), pyodermas in 12 cases (10.62%), scabies in 9 cases (7.96%), warts in 4 cases (3.54%), 1 case each of molluscum contagiosum, herpes zoster, and pediculosis capitis (0.88%) followed by eczema in 20 cases (17.70%), acne in 13 cases (11.5%), papular urticaria in 9 cases (7.96%), and psoriasis in 3 cases (2.65%). Miscellaneous dermatoses made up the rest of the 15 cases (13.27%). CONCLUSION: The pattern of dermatoses seen among the Nicobarese is quite similar with respect to the prevalence of infections in other regions of India, especially humid regions such as Assam, coastal Karnataka, and Kolkata and much higher than arid regions such as the deserts of Rajasthan.