CLINICAL PROFILE OF OUTPATIENTS ATTENDING DERMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN RELAXATION PERIOD IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA – A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYTICAL STUDY

Background - The cutaneous manifestations of the novel coronavirus have been well documented. However, there are few studies that relate to the clinical prole of regular dermatology outpatients seeking treatment during the lockdown relaxation period braving the pandemic. With the Aim - view to determine the changes seen in dermatology outpatient practice, this study analysed the clinical prole of new patients attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) during the COVID-19 lockdown relaxation period in a tertiary care centre in a metropolitan suburb in South India. New dermatology outpatients during the months of May, June, July and August Method - 2020 were included in the study. Outpatient data for this period was analysed and compared with corresponding data for the same period in the previous two years. There was a Result – decrease in the OP census, number of patients in the extremes of life as well as those with asymptomatic dermatoses. There was an increase in the number of patients with infections, particularly dermatophytosis. There was also a noteworthy absence of dermatological emergencies. Conclusion - In essence, our study shows the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the routine dermatology outpatient services with signicant changes in the clinical prole of outpatient practice following lockdown relaxation.