Introduction to skin diseases

The importance of skin diseases is often overlooked. They are
usually not life-threatening and tend to be "shrugged away".
Skin diseases are, however, a significant problem all over the
world. In 1996 11,3 % of the new attendances presenting at all OPD’s in
Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe concerned skin diseases (Masvingo
Health Profile 1996, HIS Office, PMD Masvingo). These figures are similar
elsewhere. This guide originated there to provide a quick and easy
reference for diagnosis and management of common skin diseases in
Zimbabwean clinics and hospitals (Common skin diseases in Zimbabwe,
an illustrated guide, ISBN 90-9013558-8).
In order to facilitate the use of the guide in East and West
Africa as well as in Southern Africa Dr Ben Naafs has joined me in preparing
the current edition. His helpful comments and contributions on
leprosy and other common skin diseases occurring outside of Southern
Africa have broadened its scope substantially.
Nowadays many skin diseases are related to or influenced by
concomitant HIV infection. These conditions are presented rather than
other, rare skin diseases. There are many more congenital malformations
and syndromes, benign and malignant tumours, tropical infections, skin
manifestations of systemic and metabolic disease, auto-immune diseases
etc. which are important but fall outside the context of this book as
they are not common. On the other hand some common skin diseases like
myiasis and jiggers are not included because they seldom reach a clinic,
people know how to deal with them. Needless to say, when you are in
doubt about a diagnosis the patient should be referred to a skin
specialist.
When care is taken to make the proper diagnosis and to
institute the proper treatment the management of skin diseases often
results in great improvement and satisfaction for patient and health care
worker alike. Treatments required generally need not be expensive and
are locally available.