Terai districts seeing a tide of patients with skin diseases

By Our Correspondent,Dhalkebar, Apr.13: The number of patients with skin diseases is increasing in Dhanusha and surrounding districts as of late, with most patients suffering from skin itching, acne, allergies and rosacea. 

Suman Tamang, manager of Leprosy Hospital in Lalgadh, Mithila Municipality-10, said that more than 80 per cent of the patients who come for daily treatment at the hospital have skin problems. According to Tamang, 400 to 500 patients visit the hospital for treatment on a daily basis. 

Of which most of them are men and they are found having itchy skin, skin allergies, and rosacea problems, said Tamang. 

According to the data of the hospital, out of 41,667 people who visited the hospital for examination, 34,943 people had skin diseases in the current fiscal year. 

During the fiscal year 2021/22, a total of 92,822 people were diagnosed with skin disease. Dr. Deepak Paudel, Dermatologist of the Leprosy Hospital, said that with the increase in temperature, the number of patients with skin diseases is increasing in districts of Tarai. Dr. Poudel informed that skin disease patients will increase further with the rise in temperature. 

According to hospital sources, the number of skin disease patients is predicted to cross 100,000 mark in the current fiscal year.

The problem is said to be growing due to the lack of personal hygiene, dusty soil, increasing heat and eating fruits cooked with the help of pesticides in the market area.

Apart from the treatment of leprosy, skin-related disease is also treated in this hospital, said Dr. Poudel. As people are becoming conscious about skin care, many patients are vising the hospital as of late, he added.  

He said that since the skin is an important part of the body, it is better to find out the cause of itchy skin and treat it normally. If left untreated, Dr. Poudel warned, it can cause serious complications.