U.S. ARMED FORCES MEDICAL JOURNAL
HEALTH SURVEY IN PAUCLriU
used on the remainderof the population, it was reported that there ®
was no significant variance between the numberof positive reactors to's
the two dosages.
The findings for the Yap Islands presented in this article are all *
based on dosages of 0.00002 mg PPD tuberculin. In 6 of the 10 dis~~" tricts of Yap, however, all natives with negative reactions to these -
‘from 6.1 percent for Elato Island to 84.5 percent for the Yap Islands.
?All of the islands in the Marshall Islands district had less than 40
percent positive reactors. The two lowest percentages in this district
ewere those for Ebon Atoll and Arno Island, 3.2 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. Most consistency was shownin the Saipandistrict,
vhere the percent positive was 36.4 percent for Tinian Island, 42.1
‘percent for Rota Island, and 58.4 percent for Saipan Island.
. The proportion of positive reactors progresses steadily with age
: (table 18). The only exception is the Saipandistrict where the peak
first tests were given a second test of 0.005 mg PPD tuberculin. Out-
__ of 304 tests there were 251 positive reactions. In other words, of the
le)
ecu; hegative reactors to 0.00002 mg PPD test-strength tubereulin, who
cr, Were retested with 0.005 mg PPD test-strength tuberculin, approxices mately 83 percent reacted positively. The practice of employing
is reached in the 15-to-24-year age group and a slight decline occurs
‘after the age of 44.
The percentages for both sexes In each
AEORNs aes et ts
second test-strength dosages of tuberculin was discontinued. It was
found that most individuals reacted to the second dose and the reactions were regularly so severe that they were alarming the natives.
Of the tuberculin-tested population 46.5 percent were positive reactors. The Marshall Islands district had much the lowest percent
positive, 19.2 percent as compared with 54.6 percent for the Saipan.
district and 60.0 percent for the Palaudistrict.
There is wide variation amongislands in the proportion of positive
reactors {table 17). The widest range oceurs in the Palau district,
Table 17. Percentage of positive tuberculin tests by
rank order, selected islands or atolls
Island or atoll and
district
Percent
positive
Tstand or atoll and
district are very close. Where substantial differences exist the higher
percentage is for males.
Table 18.
Percent positive
‘
Age group (years)
-
-
positive
84.5
79.0
66. 4
63.8
63.6
62.4
59.7
58.4
57.9
56.5
54.6
42.5
Lib Island***
Tabal Island***
Aur Tsland***
Eauripik Atoil®
Mili Atoll***
Namorik Island***
Majuro Atoll***
Pulo Anna Island*
Kwalalein Atoll***
Satawal] Island*
Wotje Atoll***
Mejit Island***
Babelthuap Island*
47.8
Maloelap Atoll***
16.4
Rota Island**
Kayangel Atoll*
Lamotrek Atoll*
Halik Atoll*
‘Tinian Island**
42.1
40. 2
38. 6
38.5
36. 4
Aijuk Atoll***
Utirik Atollt**
Likiep Atoll***
Elato Atoll*
Arno Island***
13.3
12.6
10.1
6.1
4.3
Ine Island***
36.0
Ebon Atoll***
Faraulep Atoll*
34.5
.
34.0
32.9
30. 0
28.9
27,9
27,5
25. 6
23.1
22.8
20.9
19,2
18.0
3.2
ee nea
*Palau district.
**Saipan district.
***\farshall Islands district.
1216
VOLUME 10, NO. 10
Palau
district
district
Marshall
Islands
district
46.5
54.6
60.0
19.2
Male
47.6
54.4
61.2
22.1
oe
Female
45.3
54.8
58. 8
16. 2
Under 5
#
mo
Yap Islands*
Fais Island*
Tohi Island*
Koror Island*
Merir Island"
Peleliu Island’
Angaur Island"
Saipan Island**
Sonsorol Island*
Ngulu Atoll*
Woleai Atoll"
Viithi Atoll*
All ages
Saipan
Total
2
Percent
district
Percentage of positive reactions among
tuberculin-tested population by age group and sex
5 to 14
91
8.0
16.3
17
32.7
44.3
40.1
6.9
15 to 24
53.3
78.7
65.4
20.9
25 to 44
60.3
73.0
73.5
27.7
45 and over
58.9
711
76.2
27.7
Skin diseases. Skin diseases are prevalent throughout the territory. The low standards of hygiene among the islanders and the
humid, hot climate of the area are all conducive to these conditions.
Dermatophytosis is the most common skin disease. The prevalence.
rate for the three districts combined was 298.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The Saipan district had the highest rate for this disease, 379.9 as
compared with 308.7 for the Marshall Islands and 253.7 for Palau.
Over one-half the population of Tabal, Aur, Faraulep, Satawal,
Rota, Wotje, Lamotrek, and Maloelap had dermatophytosis.
In this
class.tinea versicolor is in such commonoccurrence that it is ignored
by the natives. Tinea cruris and tinea circinata are also prevalent.
The prevalence rate for diseases of skin and cellular tissue was 149.2
per 1,000 persons. This group of diseases includes a high proportion
of local skin infections. These include ecthyma, which is especially
OCTOBER 1959
1217