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ABSTRACT
Background. Skin disorders are a major health problem affecting children as well as adults and causing distress and disability. Despite its high prevalence, it has been given little attention and has not been regarded as a significant problem that could benefit from public health solutions. Skin disorders are common in the adolescents; their impact on the quality of life can be enormous, particularly when considering the visibility of skin diseases and the psychologically vulnerable period of adolescence. The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical profiles of skin disorders among adolescents living in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: We carried-out a cross-sectional observational study among adolescents registered in two boarding schools in Yaoundé. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the sociodemographic background and relevant past-history. Thereafter, a whole-body examination was conducted by a dermatologist to determine the presence and types of skin disorders, if any.. Results. A total of 265 adolescents were included in the study among whom 191 (72.1%) females. The mean age was 15.02 ± 2.017 years. The prevalence of skin disorders was 75.5% and higher in females (81.2%) than in males (60.8%). Acne was the most common but was more common among older adolescents (62.7%). Skin bleaching was common and associated with skin disorders (p=0.001). Conclusion. Skin disorders affect three quarter of the adolescent population in this study, with acne being the most common disorder. Skin bleaching seems to be is a common practise among these adolescents, and may significantly increase the burden in this young population.


RÉSUMÉ
Introduction : Les pathologies dermatologiques sont un problème de santé majeur chez les enfants comme les adultes. Leur impact sur la qualité de vie peut être important surtout de par leur caractère affichant et la période de vulnérabilité psychologique qu'est l'adolescence. L’objectif de notre étude était de décrire les profils épidémiologiques et cliniques des dermatoses chez des adolescents. Matériels et méthodes : Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale prospective dans deux internats de Yaoundé au Cameroun. Un questionnaire auto-administré a été utilisé pour recueillir des informations sociodémographiques et l’examen physique a été réalisé à la rechercher des lésions cutanées. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du logiciel SPSS version 23. Une valeur P < 0,05 a été considérée comme statistiquement significative. Résultats : 265 adolescents ont été inclus, 191 (72,1%) étaient de sexe féminin. L'âge moyen était de 15,02 ± 2,017 ans. La prévalence des dermatoses était de 75,5 % ; elle était plus élevée chez les filles (81,2 %) que chez les garçons (60,8 %). L'acné était la pathologie la plus fréquente surtout chez les adolescents les plus âgés (62,7%). La dépigmentation volontaire était fréquente et associée significativement aux dermatoses (p=0,001). Conclusion : Les dermatoses affectent trois quarts de la population adolescente dans cette étude, l'acné étant la plus fréquente. La dépigmentation volontaire qui semble être une pratique courante chez ces adolescents augmente de manière significative la morbidité dans cette jeune population.


 

Keywords

: adolescents, skin disorders, skin bleaching, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

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Grâce Anita Nkoro, Sime Tchouamo Arielle Annick, Odette Berline Sigha, Inès Urielle Nguega, Rose Ekambi Kotto, Emmanuel Armand Kouotou, & Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi. (2023). Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Skin Disorders among Cameroonian Adolescents . HEALTH SCIENCES AND DISEASE, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/hsd.v24i2.4225
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