The epidemiology of pyoderma in Jamaican children

Preschool and school-aged children from a small area of rural Jamaica were examined in an attempt to assess the epidemiologic factors predisposing certain persons to pyoderma. Twenty-three children were included in the affected group; their disease consisted of secondarily infected insect bites or infestations as well as primary pyoderma. The control group was composed of twenty-three children who had no evidence of infected skin disease. Comparison of the two groups revealed a significant difference in the socioeconomic status of the control and study groups. There was no statistically significant difference in nutritional status, size of family, bathing frequency, or water supply.