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Children (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024We conducted a two-year retrospective evaluation of infants aged under two years with a confirmed, clinical, or suspected diagnosis of scabies in a healthcare center in...
We conducted a two-year retrospective evaluation of infants aged under two years with a confirmed, clinical, or suspected diagnosis of scabies in a healthcare center in Alicante (Spain) to determine possible factors associated with diagnostic delay and poor treatment response. We collected epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment variables. After describing our findings as mean values and percentages, we compared categorical variables using the Student's -test and the Mann-Whitney U test, and we compared continuous variables with the Chi test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. We included 51 infants (19 boys and 32 girls) with a mean age of 15 months. The main source of contagion was the family; half of the infants lived with four or more people. According to the International Consensus Criteria for the Diagnosis of Scabies, confirmed scabies was diagnosed in 45% of cases and clinical scabies in 47%, and 45% of cases had a diagnostic delay. Lesions mainly affected the hands, feet, and trunk, with papules in 92% of cases and burrows in 55%. The predominant symptoms were pruritus (94%) and irritability (69%). Regarding treatment, 98% of the infants received topical permethrin and 35% received oral ivermectin. Treatment failed in 76% of infants. Living in large family units was associated with a higher risk of contagion and therapeutic failure. Diagnostic delay was associated with previous misdiagnosis.
PubMed: 38671660
DOI: 10.3390/children11040443 -
Infection Apr 2024This case report highlights a case of a 65-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with suspicion of refractory scabies. She had undergone multiple treatments without...
This case report highlights a case of a 65-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with suspicion of refractory scabies. She had undergone multiple treatments without improvement. However, the clinical condition was not scabies but rather Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome (GCS), leading to rapid clinical improvement and avoiding the need for further unnecessary tests and treatments. GCS is a postviral exanthem characterized by symmetrical, red papules on the extremities and buttocks, typically occurring in children but can also affect adults. It is crucial for every physician to distinguish it from other causes of rash, including scabies, to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
PubMed: 38668921
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02263-4 -
Parasites & Vectors Apr 2024Sarcoptic mange is a serious animal welfare concern in bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Fluralaner (Bravecto) is a novel acaricide that has recently been utilised...
BACKGROUND
Sarcoptic mange is a serious animal welfare concern in bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Fluralaner (Bravecto) is a novel acaricide that has recently been utilised for treating mange in wombats. The topical 'spot-on' formulation of fluralaner can limit treatment delivery options in situ, but dilution to a volume for 'pour-on' delivery is one practicable solution. This study investigated the in vitro acaricidal activity of Bravecto, a proposed essential oil-based diluent (Orange Power), and two of its active constituents, limonene and citral, against Sarcoptes scabiei.
METHODS
Sarcoptes scabiei were sourced from experimentally infested pigs. In vitro assays were performed to determine the lethal concentration (LC) and survival time of the mites when exposed to varying concentrations of the test solutions.
RESULTS
All compounds were highly effective at killing mites in vitro. The LC values of Bravecto, Orange Power, limonene and citral at 1 h were 14.61 mg/ml, 4.50%, 26.53% and 0.76%, respectively. The median survival times of mites exposed to undiluted Bravecto, Orange Power and their combination were 15, 5 and 10 min, respectively. A pilot survival assay of mites collected from a mange-affected wombat showed survival times of < 10 min when exposed to Bravecto and Orange Power and 20 min when exposed to moxidectin.
CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the acaricidal properties of Bravecto, demonstrate acaricidal properties of Orange Power and support the potential suitability of Orange Power and its active constituents as a diluent for Bravecto. As well as killing mites via direct exposure, Orange Power could potentially enhance the topical delivery of Bravecto to wombats by increasing drug penetration in hyperkeratotic crusts. Further research evaluating the physiochemical properties and modes of action of Orange Power and its constituents as a formulation vehicle would be of value.
Topics: Animals; Sarcoptes scabiei; Acaricides; Isoxazoles; Scabies; Plant Oils; Acyclic Monoterpenes; Swine; Limonene; Terpenes; Cyclohexenes; Lethal Dose 50
PubMed: 38664829
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06275-9 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Jun 2024
PubMed: 38642104
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05563-x -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Mites are highly prevalent arthropods that infest diverse ecological niches globally. Approximately 55,000 species of mites have been identified but many more are yet to... (Review)
Review
Mites are highly prevalent arthropods that infest diverse ecological niches globally. Approximately 55,000 species of mites have been identified but many more are yet to be discovered. Of the ones we do know about, most go unnoticed by humans and animals. However, there are several species from the Acariformes superorder that exert a significant impact on global human health. House dust mites are a major source of inhaled allergens, affecting 10-20% of the world's population; storage mites also cause a significant allergy in susceptible individuals; chiggers are the sole vectors for the bacterium that causes scrub typhus; mites are part of the normal microfauna of humans and their pets, but under certain conditions populations grow out of control and affect the integrity of the integumentary system; and scabies mites cause one of the most common dermatological diseases worldwide. On the other hand, recent genome sequences of mites provide novel tools for mite control and the development of new biomaterial with applications in biomedicine. Despite the palpable disease burden, mites remain understudied in parasitological research. By better understanding mite biology and disease processes, researchers can identify new ways to diagnose, manage, and prevent common mite-induced afflictions. This knowledge can lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced disease burden from these remarkably widespread yet understudied creatures.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arthropods; Biocompatible Materials; Cost of Illness; Ecosystem; Hypersensitivity
PubMed: 38612486
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073675 -
Cureus Mar 2024Ivermectin was first discovered in the 1970s by Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura and Irish parasitologist William C. Campbell. Ivermectin has become a versatile... (Review)
Review
Ivermectin was first discovered in the 1970s by Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura and Irish parasitologist William C. Campbell. Ivermectin has become a versatile pharmaceutical over the past 50 years. Ivermectin is a derivative of avermectin originally used to treat parasitic infections. Emerging literature has suggested that its role goes beyond this and may help treat inflammatory conditions, viral infections, and cancers. Ivermectin's anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anticancer effects were explored. Its traditional mechanism of action in parasitic diseases, such as scabies and malaria, rests on its ability to interfere with the glutamate-gated chloride channels in invertebrates and the lack of P-glycoprotein in many parasites. More recently, it has been discovered that the ability of ivermectin to block the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of the activated B (NF-κB) pathway that modulates the expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines is implicated in its role as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat rosacea. Ivermectin has also been evaluated for treating infections caused by viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and adenoviruses, through inhibition of viral protein transportation and acting on the importin α/β1 interface. It has also been suggested that ivermectin can inhibit the proliferation of tumorigenic cells through various pathways that lead to the management of certain cancers. The review aimed to evaluate its multifaceted effects and potential clinical applications beyond its traditional use as an anthelmintic agent.
PubMed: 38606261
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56025 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Jun 2024Scabies is an underdiagnosed skin infestation caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. The infection causes severe itching and a skin rash but can be effectively treated...
INTRODUCTION
Scabies is an underdiagnosed skin infestation caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. The infection causes severe itching and a skin rash but can be effectively treated using topical or systemic drugs. Scabies outbreaks are commonly reported in resource-poor countries, including Ghana. Traditional healers play an important role in primary care in rural areas. The role of these traditional healers in the management of scabies has so far not been explored. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the perceptions of traditional healers regarding the causation and management of scabies.
METHODS
A phenomenological qualitative approach was employed. Traditional healers in the Asante Akim North and Central districts in Ghana were approached with an interview request. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, 15 traditional healers were interviewed. The results were coded and analysed, after which seven themes were extrapolated.
RESULTS
Scabies infections were frequently reported by traditional healers. Itching and skin rash were unanimously regarded as the major symptoms of scabies. The majority acknowledged the infectious nature of scabies, but no participant reported the causative organism. A dichotomous disease classification was noted, consisting of 'natural' and 'spiritual' variants each with a unique disease profile and management requirements, as reported by the traditional healers. All but two traditional healers reported to treat scabies using almost exclusively herbs and spiritual rituals.
CONCLUSION
The majority of traditional healers were open to collaboration with allopathic healthcare providers. Collaboration could broaden the primary care network in rural areas, but mistrust and lack of transparency form potential barriers to collaboration. We, therefore, emphasise the need for additional efforts to investigate strategies for future collaboration.
Topics: Scabies; Humans; Ghana; Medicine, African Traditional; Female; Male; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Adult; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Animals; Interviews as Topic; Perception; Traditional Medicine Practitioners
PubMed: 38599337
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13989 -
Archives of Razi Institute Oct 2023Scabies is considered an external parasite notorious for its high prevalence causing severe and contagious skin lesions in humans and animals worldwide. This study has...
Scabies is considered an external parasite notorious for its high prevalence causing severe and contagious skin lesions in humans and animals worldwide. This study has introduced a medicine to treat dogs infested with scabies (variants of Demodex, Sarcoptes, Psoroptes, Otodectes, etc.). The present study offers a no-side-effect herbal formulation to treat dogs infested with scabies. Unlike oral and injectable medicines, which take the form of an ointment and are topically applied on-site, this medicinal formulation can be easily used without concerns over its side effects or consumption dosages. This medicinal formulation requires no skin rinsing due to its herbal and high skin absorption properties, as recovery may take less than a month with a maximum of two times of application. To carry out the experiment, 25 sick dogs with various breeds and ages suspected of scabies were gathered. Following accurate morphological examinations of all the samples, a deep skin chip of the lesion site was provided, which was examined by a microscope. Then, 13 dogs (Mix, Terrier, Pug, Husky, Spitz) were infested with Demodex scabies and 12 dogs (Pittbull, Mix, Shih Tzu, Terrier, Boxer, Setter) with Sarcoptic scabies. The prepared product was topically administered at a constant 2% dosage to the bodies of all the samples. To prepare the ointment, 1 g of Borax (NaBO·10HO) was first dissolved in 35 g deionized water and heated to 70°C. Then, 45 g of liquid paraffin (CH) was mixed with 1 g of Carvacrol (CHO) and 1 g of geranium (CHO) and stirred well to become a phase. Later, 17 g of the melted beeswax (CHCOOC3H) was added to the liquid paraffin compound. In the end, the aqueous phase was added to the oil phase, and the mixture process immediately began in one direction with a glass stirrer and continued until the product cooled down. Essential oils (EO) was obtained by steam distillation of fresh Thyme and Rose-Acented Geranium in a stainless steel distillation apparatus (alembic) for 3 h. The main components of the essential oils used in the formulation were performed using a Hewlett-Packard GC system interfaced with a mass spectrometer equipped with an HP5-MS capillary column (30 m, 0.32 mm, 0.25 µm film thicknesses). For GC-MS detection, electron ionization with ionization energy of 70 eV was used. To examine the presence of scabies, weekly skin sampling was performed, and the treatment continued until 30 days, when no skin chip of the scabies was noted. The findings revealed that the formulation developed no side effects and removed the daily use, as it could be administered once or twice a week. Also, complete recovery of scabies in all the breeds was found to be less than a month at most. This medicinal formulationcan be easily used without concerns over its side effects or consumption dosages. This study introduced a herbal formulation with effective herbal ingredients without any side effects to treat the sarcoptes and demodex parasites; unlike other chemical compounds, this medicinal formulation has no side effects, while some other formulations could develop side effects.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dogs; Scabies; Parasites; Mineral Oil; Ointments; Sarcoptes scabiei; Plant Breeding; Plant Extracts; Oils, Volatile
PubMed: 38590675
DOI: 10.22092/ARI.2023.78.5.1472 -
IJID Regions Jun 2024This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology of scabies and its outbreaks in Japanese households, residential care facilities (RCFs), and hospitals using claims...
Investigating the epidemiology and outbreaks of scabies in Japanese households, residential care facilities, and hospitals using claims data: the Longevity Improvement & Fair Evidence (LIFE) study.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology of scabies and its outbreaks in Japanese households, residential care facilities (RCFs), and hospitals using claims data.
METHODS
This descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using claims data from eight municipalities in Japan. Scabies cases were identified using a combination of recorded diagnoses and administered medications. The study period was from April 2015 to March 2019. Outbreaks were defined as ≥2 cases of scabies occurring within a calendar month at a single household, RCF, or hospital.
RESULTS
We identified 857 scabies cases for analysis. The annual prevalence of scabies ranged from 40 to 67 per 100,000 beneficiaries. The annual attack rate of scabies was found to be highest in RCFs (21 per 1000 RCFs), followed by hospitals (11 per 1000 hospitals) and households (0.25 per 1000 households). The annual outbreak attack rate was also highest in RCFs (4.0 per 1000 RCFs), followed by hospitals (1.6 per 1000 hospitals) and household (0.027 per household). The patterns of outbreaks varied widely among the RCFs.
CONCLUSIONS
The study showcases the potential of claims data for detecting infectious disease outbreaks, which could provide valuable insight for the future management and prevention of scabies. Infection control of scabies in RCFs is crucial in aging societies.
PubMed: 38590627
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.03.008 -
Atencion Primaria Apr 2024The care of migrant patients includes initial screening and lifelong monitoring, highlighting the importance of preventing and tracking chronic, communicable and...
The care of migrant patients includes initial screening and lifelong monitoring, highlighting the importance of preventing and tracking chronic, communicable and non-communicable diseases. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity varies by ethnicity, influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle, and socio-economic status. Preventive measures, health promotion, and risk factor identification are crucial. Chronic communicable diseases may manifest years after transmission, underscoring the necessity of primary care screening, especially for populations from endemic or high-risk areas. Imported skin lesions are a common reason for consultation among migrant and traveller patients. Their ethiology is varied, ranging from common conditions such as scabies, mycoses, and urticaria to tropical dermatoses like filariasis and leprosy.
PubMed: 38583414
DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2024.102922