Dermatological conditions in military conscripts

Abstract

Background Published studies regarding skin conditions in the military are mainly cross-sectional studies from clinical encounters during war campaigns and military training. Aims To determine the incidence and spectrum of dermatological conditions in a cohort of military conscripts in Singapore. Soldiers diagnosed with contact dermatitis (CD) were further analysed for body area involvement, possible occupational and/or environmental causative agent and restrictions issued. Methods Retrospective cohort study. Subjects' diagnoses and demographic variables were extracted from electronic medical records. Medical records of CD cases were reviewed to characterize the nature of exposure and operational impact on training. Results The incidence of reporting of new dermatological complaints was 24.5 per 100 military conscripts per year. Dermatological conditions with the highest incidence over the period of full-time military service included fungal skin infection (6.7/100 conscripts/year), non-specific dermatitis (4.9/100 conscripts/year) and insect bite reaction (1.8/100 conscripts/year). The annual incidence of contact dermatitis over the same period was 0.4/100 conscripts. Conclusions In a military population based in the tropics fungal skin infections, non-specific dermatitis and insect bite reactions were the commonest reasons for dermatological consultation. CD incidence was 0.4 per 100 conscripts per year. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved.