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Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Skin Diseases Among Army Personnel and Flood Victims During the 2011 Floods in Thailand

Part of: Floods collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2016

Wittaya Thongtaeparak ,
Walai-orn Pratchyapruit ,
Settha Kotanivong ,
Nimit Sirithanakit ,
Sudaluck Thunyaharn ,
Ram Rangsin ,
Phachara Chaikaew ,
Pitee Wongyongsin ,
Pongpak Pinyoboon  and
Phatcharaphan Sutthiwan
...Show all authors
Wittaya Thongtaeparak
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Walai-orn Pratchyapruit
Affiliation:
Institute of Dermatology, Bangkok, Thailand
Settha Kotanivong
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Nimit Sirithanakit
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Sudaluck Thunyaharn
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Ram Rangsin
Affiliation:
Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Phachara Chaikaew
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Pitee Wongyongsin
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Pongpak Pinyoboon
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Phatcharaphan Sutthiwan
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Witchwaree Theethansiri
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Dusit Janthayanont
Affiliation:
Outpatient Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Mathirut Mungthin*
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Mathirut Mungthin, MD, PhD, Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, 315 Ratchawithi Rd. Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand (e-mail: mathirut@hotmail.com).
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for skin problems among flood victims and army personnel during the 2011 floods in Thailand.

Methods

To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for skin symptoms, standardized questionnaires were used to collect demographic data, current skin symptoms, history of water exposure, and sanitary behaviors. A certified dermatologist evaluated those who presented with skin problems and provided diagnoses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess independent risk factors for skin symptoms.

Results

The most prevalent skin disease was irritant contact dermatitis. Flood victims showed a higher prevalence of skin symptoms compared with army personnel. Development of skin symptoms after exposure to floodwater was also observed earlier among flood victims. Having a history of skin diseases and delayed skin cleaning after exposure were also significant risk factors for the development of skin symptoms.

Conclusion

This information might be used as guidelines for protecting military personnel and to educate the general public regarding flood disaster management. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:570–575)

Keywords

skin diseasesfloodsThailandarmy personneldisaster medicineenvironmental exposure
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 570 - 575
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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