Although skin infections are common in tropical countries, there is scant data quantifying the relationship with climate conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and seasonality of skin abscess in Mayotte, Comoros. We collected data on patients with cutaneous abscesses requiring surgical drainage from January 2009 to December 2010. A total of 3423 abscesses were recorded. The overall annualized incidence was 785 cases per 100,000 population (95% confidence interval 754-814). The incidence rate peaked in children and abscesses were highest during the rainy season (964 cases per 100,000 population per 6 months). A greater frequency of insects bites, a lower level of sensitization and lack of access to adequate hygiene are potential explanations for these findings. A community-based intervention strategy should target vulnerable children in order to combat this disease.
Keywords: Comoros; Cutaneous abscess; climate; seasonality; tropics.