This article describes the epidemiology of childhood skin infections presenting to primary care in the Tairawhiti (Gisborne) region, compared to hospitalised cases during the same period. The 9 participating general practitioners recorded 110 incident cases of skin infections in 0–14 year old children over a 10-week period in 2008, equivalent to an annual incidence rate of 106.7 (95% CI, 85.2 to 127.2) cases per 1000 children in the region. For every one hospitalisation there were an estimated 14 primary care cases. Three-quarters of skin infections in both primary care and hospital settings occurred in Māori children. Hospitalised cases of serious skin infections were more likely to occur in the preschool age group whereas the majority of cases at the primary care level consisted of children aged 5–9 years.
