Pattern of skin diseases among migrant construction workers in Mangalore.

BACKGROUND

With increasing industrialization, the construction industry provides employment to a large number of skilled and nonskilled workers, many of them migrant workers.

AIM: This study was undertaken to provide epidemiological data regarding various dermatoses among migrant construction workers in India as currently there is a paucity of the same.

METHODS

One thousand construction workers, including 467 migrant laborers, were examined for various dermatoses.

RESULTS

Most (88%) workers were males and 51.17% were in their third decade. Infective and noninfective dermatoses were seen in 89.72% and 53.74% of laborers respectively. Among infective dermatoses, fungal infections were the most common (46.25%) ones, followed by bacterial infections (24.83%), scabies (8.56%) and viral infections (6.42%). Contact dermatitis to cement was seen in 12.48% of the laborers. Masons had a significantly higher incidence of contact dermatitis to cement, viral infections and scabies than helpers.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of dermatoses is an expression of poverty, overcrowding and the occupational hazards of the construction industry.