Abstract

MONCADA JIMENEZ, José; MENESES MONTERO, Maureen; HIDALGO MATLOCK, Benjamin  and  GRANADOS CHAVARRIA, Caridad. Lesiones cutáneas en educadores físicos costarricenses. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2004, vol.46, n.3, pp.132-138. ISSN 0001-6002.

Purpose: In Costa Rica, physical education professionals are chronically exposed to solar radiation throughout their lives. However, skin lesions in this group of workers have not been described so far. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of skin lesions in this professionals in Costa Rica. Methods: Twenty-three males (48.9%) and twenty-four females (51.1%) volunteers answered a questionnaire and were examined by a dermatologist from the Dermatology Service of the Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Hospital. Information on demographics, phototype, general health status, work schedule, clothing, skin and sun protection, family and personal history for skin cancer, and anatomic region of the skin lesion were obtained. Results and discussion: In general, most lesions were found in the face, chest, shoulders, back, arms, and thighs. There were 3 cases of family history of skin cancer; and one case of personal history (non melanoma) of skin cancer. Pre-malignant lesions suggestive of skin cancer were found in 5 cases (6.3%). In conclusion, avoiding excessive sun exposure and a yearly visit to a dermatologist is recornmended. It is also important to perform a monthly self-examination of the skin, to wear sun glasses, hat, sun blockers, and thick-layered lightcolored preferably cotton clothes. Agradecimientos Un agradecimiento especial a los educadores físicos que voluntariamente participaron en este estudio; al comité organizador del Congreso Nacional de Educación Física, por facilitamos una sala adecuada para la revisión médica; al Dr. Daniel Rodríguez Guerrero, Jefe del Servicio de Medicina del Hospital Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia (HRACG); al Dr. Luis Paulino Hernández Castañeda, Director del HRACG; y al Dr. Alvaro Chen Chen, jefe del Servicio de Dermatología del HRACG., por brindar los permisos correspondientes para que los médicos participaran en el estudio.

Keywords : dermatología; educadores; cáncer de piel.