OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a 3-year programme aimed at controlling scabies on five small lagoon islands in the Solomon Islands by monitoring scabies, skin sores, streptococcal skin contamination, serology and haematuria in the island children. METHODS Control was achieved by treating almost all residents of each island once or twice within 2 weeks with ivermectin (160-250 microg/kg), ...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Scabies is a major global public health issue that might affect people from all socioeconomic levels. The primary contributing factors in contracting scabies seem to be poverty and overcrowded living conditions. Scabies often spreads among schoolchildren quite rapidly, owing to their close contact and overcrowding within the schools. However, limited information is availab...

BACKGROUND Scabies is highly prevalent in socially disadvantaged communities such as indigenous populations and in developing countries. Generalized itching causes discomfort to the patient; however, serious complications can occur as a result of secondary bacterial pyoderma, commonly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) or Staphylococcus aureus. In the tropics, skin damage due to scabies mit...

BACKGROUND Scabies is a parasitic skin infestation caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It is common worldwide and spreads rapidly under crowded conditions, such as those found in socially disadvantaged communities of Indigenous populations and in developing countries. Pruritic scabies lesions facilitate opportunistic bacterial infections, particularly Group A streptococci. Streptoco...

  Purpose: Scabies is a parasitic disease with nocturnal itching and cutaneous lesions. It spreads   by physical contact and it occurs mostly in crowded places. Because of their occupation, military   personnel have to live in garrisons and camps. So the prevalence of scabies is higher in military   systems. Hence, this study evaluated the epidemiology of scabies in Iran’s Army.   Materials and...

TO THE EDITOR: There are very high rates of crusted scabies in remote Indigenous Australian communities, which is an important driver in skin infections and consequent illnesses, such as invasive streptococcal and staphylococcal sepsis, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and acute rheumatic fever. Patients with crusted scabies serve as sentinels that drive ongoing community infection. In ord...

BACKGROUND The resident skin microbiota plays an important role in restricting pathogenic bacteria, thereby protecting the host. Scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) are thought to promote bacterial infections by breaching the skin barrier and excreting molecules that inhibit host innate immune responses. Epidemiological studies in humans confirm increased incidence of impetigo, generally caused b...

BACKGROUND The burden of scabies is highest in tropical countries, but recent data from Iraq are scanty. OBJECTIVE To estimate the frequency of scabies in patients of a dermatology clinic in central Iraq. METHODOLOGY The study was conducted in Tikrit (Iraq), between May 2007 and February 2008. A total of 1,194 patients presenting to a dermatology clinic were included in the study. RESULTS...

Scabies, a parasitic infestation caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is diagnosed by observing either the mite, its ova, or its excrement. The mite tracts, known as burrows and a characteristic presentation of the pruritic condition, are typically found on the web spaces between the fingers. Other cutaneous lesions include excoriated papules, pustules, and vesicles. However, atypical clinical...

To the Editor: Scabies is a cutaneous parasitosis transmitted mainly by skin contact. Delayed diagnosis because of atypical presentation facilitates dissemination. Crusted (Norwegian) scabies particularly is likely to lead to epidemics, because patients are infested by thousands of mites and thus are extremely contagious. Several nosocomial scabies outbreaks with secondary cases among the relat...