Common skin disorders seen in the migrant farmworker health care clinic setting.

BACKGROUND

Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for farmworkers. Migrant farmworkers commonly access rural health clinics for diagnosis and treatment of skin disease.

PURPOSE: To assess common skin conditions of migrant farmworkers treated in rural clinics and to describe effective and economic management of these conditions.

METHODS

Seventy-nine farmworkers with a skin condition were seen as patients at 4 clinics in eastern North Carolina. A list of the most common conditions encountered was compiled and treatment methods were found in the literature.

RESULTS

Twenty-three common conditions were identified. The most common conditions were contact dermatitis, melasma, tinea, seborrheic keratoses, and impetigo. A table of treatment recommendations was composed that can be used by clinicians in this setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, the most common skin conditions seen in the migrant farmworker population in eastern North Carolina are similar to conditions found in the general population.