• Erin McMeniman, Libby Holden, Therese Kearns, Danielle B Clucas, Jonathan R Carapetis, Bart J Currie, Christine Connors, and Ross M Andrews.
• Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. erinkmcmeniman@gmail.com
• Australas. J. Dermatol. 2011 Nov 1; 52 (4): 270-3.

BackgroundThe most common skin infections affecting children in remote Aboriginal communities are scabies and impetigo. Group A streptococcal skin infections are linked to the high rates of heart and renal disease occurring in Aboriginal Australians.MethodsA retrospective review of medical records was conducted in a primary health care centre in the East Arnhem region of the Northern Territory. Data was collected from all presentations to the clinic in the first 2 years of life for 99 children born between 2001 and 2005 as a component of the East Arnhem Regional Healthy Skin Project.ResultsThe median number of presentations to the clinic in the first 2 years of life was 32. Skin disease was recorded in 22% of all presentations. By 1 year of age 82% of children had presented to the clinic with their first episode of impetigo and 68% with their first episode of scabies. Antibiotics were administered to 49% of children with impetigo.ConclusionSkin infections are a major reason for presentation to primary health clinics and contribute to the high disease burden experienced by children in the first 2 years of life. This high frequency of presentation provides multiple opportunities for intervention and monitoring.© 2011 The Authors. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2011 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.

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