Epidemiologic characteristics of viral dermatoses--results of a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: A great number of skin diseases are caused by viruses (1, 2, 3). Virus infections can cause skin diseases due to three mechanisms: direct inoculation, systemic infection and local spreading of the internal focus. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of virus-associated dermatoses (VD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ambulant patients of policlinical department of the Clinic of Infectious and Dermatovenereological Diseases Novi Sad were included in this study. Epidemiologic characteristics were analyzed by retrospective studying of medical documentation. RESULTS: During a five-year-period (1991-1995), 1,461 cases of VD were registered or 7.09% of the total number of patients examinated in this period (N = 20.596). Majority of the observed patients were males (N = 788-53.25%) and female patients were less frequent (N = 683-46.75%, table 1). Table 2 shows the age distribution of our patients. Most of the patients were in the 20-29 year age group (N = 443 or 30.32%). The mean age of patients was X = 36.14 years (SD = 19.02). Table 3 shows the occupational structure of our patients. The most frequent was the group of employed (N = 773 or 50.17%). Table 4 shows the structure of the patients according to pathogenic agents. The most frequent was the group of warts and condylomata (N = 900 or 61.60%). It is apparent that the number of VD is increasing. DISCUSSION: According to collected data, patients with VD make up a great group being treated at dermatological clinics. Our findings (7.09%) are compatible to the standard results. A relative high mean age of our patients is determinated by the fact that the children are managed at the Institute of Health Care of Mother and Child Novi Sad (the warts are most frequent in this population) or in other dermatological ambulants. There is no evidence that actual socio-political events affect the spreading of VD. Most patients belong to the urban population making up dominant groups (employed, scholars, pensioners). CONCLUSION: The number of patients with VD is increasing. Although from year to year the number of diseased increases or decreases, generally speaking there is an increasing trend of VD.