[The epidemiology of dermatologic diseases in primary care]

With the aim of finding out the prevalence and the origin of the skin disease in primary health care, a prospective study was carried out over the period of May to October of 1989 in an urban health centre, with the support of the dermatologist and using iconographic means. The 395 cases considered made up 4.85% of all the medical examinations. A limited number of diagnoses (11) made up the majority of the medical examinations (70%). 19% were referred to the dermatologist. 23% of those diagnosed were not consulted for the patient, including two malign tumours.

skin disease has a relevant place in primary health care clinics; the dermatological training of the primary health care doctor should be aimed at the most frequent diagnoses in his setting; active detection of skin lesions is very important.