Dermatological consultations in an observation unit of an emergency department in Italy

Abstract Background Dermatological emergencies exist and should not be underestimated. On the other hand, many accesses to the emergency department (ED) of patients with dermatological conditions are unjustified. Objective Our main objective is to describe dermatological conditions seen in an ED observation unit (EDOU). Secondly, our aim is to identify alarm symptoms and signs of 'true emergencies'. Methods We conducted a prospective study, including dermatological patients admitted to EDOU of the University Hospital of San Martino, Genoa, Italy, in 3 years. Results Overall 372 patients were studied. The most common condition seen was infection (41.67%) (mainly bacterial), followed by atypical exanthem (13.98%) and vasculitis (11.29%). The highest rate of cases peaked in May (13%); infectious diseases showed two peaks (spring and autumn). Conclusion Given constraints involved in health care today, it is crucial to understand which dermatological presentations are 'true emergencies'. In such a scenario knowing the epidemiology of dermatological emergencies and the alarming skin signs and symptoms might be useful.