Skin Disorders in Paediatric Patients Presenting at a Dermatology Clinic in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Childhood skin disorders are among the most prevalent conditions encountered in outpatient paediatric and dermatology settings in Nigeria, yet they remain underreported and often mismanaged. This retrospective descriptive study documents the pattern and frequency of skin disorders in paediatric patients aged zero to 15 years presenting at the dermatology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Kano State, North West Nigeria, over a two-year period from January 2022 to December 2023. Case records of 1,024 paediatric dermatology consultations were reviewed. Clinical diagnoses were classified using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) dermatological categories. Infective skin conditions were the most prevalent category (51.4%), with tinea capitis (22.6%), impetigo (14.3%), and scabies (10.8%) leading. Eczematous dermatitis constituted 21.3% of presentations, predominantly atopic dermatitis. Papulosquamous disorders (8.4%) and acneiform conditions (6.7%) were also common. Children under five years had the highest consultation frequency (43.2%). Tinea capitis was significantly more prevalent in school-age children from low-income households. Referral from primary care accounted for 28.9% of consultations, indicating some functional referral pathway. Misdiagnosis at primary care level was documented in 38.6% of referred cases. The study recommends improved dermatology education for primary care physicians, community awareness on skin hygiene, and integrated dermatology training modules in paediatric postgraduate curricula. Keywords: paediatric skin disorders, tinea capitis, atopic dermatitis, Kano State, North West Nigeria.