Skin infections of the limbs of Polynesian children

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to obtain information regarding the incidence of cellulitis or cutaneous abscess in children of Polynesian ethnicity (including New Zealand Maori), and to calculate the relative risk increase versus other ethnicities.

Methods: We reviewed all patients aged between 1 to 14 years who were admitted at our tertiary care institution during the year 2000. Ninety-one children (of 10 different ethnicities) with skin infections were identified.

Results: The most common diagnosis was cutaneous abscess (46 of 91 cases, 50.5%), followed by cellulitis (45 of 91 cases, 49.5%). The most common location of infection was the lower limb (79.1%). The major pathogenic organisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. All but one of the children had an uneventful recovery. The incidence of infection in the Polynesian children was 137.7 per 100,000, and the incidence in European children (and children of other ethnic groups) was 35.4 per 100,000. In addition, we calculated a relative risk increase of 3.89 (95% confidence interval of 2.33 to 6.52, p <0.05), which underlines the increased risk that Polynesian children suffer from skin infection.

Conclusion: This is the first study showing (in detail) how Polynesian children are affected by a high incidence and increased relative risk of skin infections in their limbs (arms and legs). However, further research (to identify whether genetic disposition or social and environmental circumstances are involved) is required.