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