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Parasites & Vectors Aug 2017Scabies is a parasitic disease due to infestation of skin by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies is a major public health problem and endemic in resource poor... (Review)
Review
Scabies is a parasitic disease due to infestation of skin by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies is a major public health problem and endemic in resource poor communities worldwide affecting over 100 million people. Associated bacterial infections cause substantial morbidity, and in severe cases can lead to renal and cardiac diseases. Mite infestation of the skin causes localised cutaneous inflammation, pruritus, skin lesions, and allergic and inflammatory responses are mounted by the host against the mite and its products. Our current understanding of the immune and inflammatory responses associated with the clinical manifestations in scabies is far outweighed by the significant global impact of the disease. This review aims to provide a better understanding of human immune responses to S. scabiei in ordinary and crusted scabies phenotypes.
Topics: Animals; Cytokines; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Immunity, Innate; Sarcoptes scabiei; Scabies; Skin
PubMed: 28797273
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2320-4 -
Postgraduate Medical Journal Jul 2004Human scabies, caused by skin infestation with the arthropod mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, typically results in a papular, intensely pruritic eruption involving the... (Review)
Review
Human scabies, caused by skin infestation with the arthropod mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, typically results in a papular, intensely pruritic eruption involving the interdigital spaces, and flexure creases. Recent research has led to a reassessment of the morbidity attributable to this parasite in endemic communities, particularly resulting from secondary skin sepsis and postinfective complications including glomerulonephritis. This has led to studies of the benefits of community based control programmes, and to concerns regarding the emergence of drug resistance when such strategies are employed. The renewed research interest into the biology of this infection has resulted in the application of molecular tools. This has established that canine and human scabies populations are genetically distinct, a finding with major implications for the formulation of public health control policies. Further research is needed to increase understanding of drug resistance, and to identify new drug targets and potential vaccine candidates.
Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Crowding; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Hygiene; Poverty; Recurrence; Scabies
PubMed: 15254301
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Feb 2016Globally, scabies affects more than 130 million people at any time. In the developed world, outbreaks in health institutions and vulnerable communities result in a... (Review)
Review
Globally, scabies affects more than 130 million people at any time. In the developed world, outbreaks in health institutions and vulnerable communities result in a significant economic burden. A review of the literature demonstrates the emergence of resistance toward classical scabicidal treatments and the lack of effectiveness of currently available scabicides in reducing the inflammatory skin reactions and pyodermal progression that occurs in predisposed patient cohorts. Tea tree oil (TTO) has demonstrated promising acaricidal effects against scabies mites in vitro and has also been successfully used as an adjuvant topical medication for the treatment of crusted scabies, including cases that did not respond to standard treatments. Emerging acaricide resistance threatens the future usefulness of currently used gold standard treatments (oral ivermectin and topical permethrin) for scabies. The imminent development of new chemical entities is doubtful. The cumulative acaricidal, antibacterial, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effects of TTO may have the potential to successfully reduce the burden of scabies infection and the associated bacterial complications. This review summarizes current knowledge on the use of TTO for the treatment of scabies. On the strength of existing data for TTO, larger scale, randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted.
Topics: Acaricides; Humans; Scabies; Tea Tree Oil
PubMed: 26787146
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0515 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023
Topics: Humans; Scabies; Permethrin; Insecticides; Ivermectin
PubMed: 38029237
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1297337 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Mar 2015Scabies is recognised as a major public health problem in many countries, and is responsible for significant morbidity due to secondary bacterial infection of the skin...
BACKGROUND
Scabies is recognised as a major public health problem in many countries, and is responsible for significant morbidity due to secondary bacterial infection of the skin causing impetigo, abscesses and cellulitis, that can in turn lead to serious systemic complications such as septicaemia, kidney disease and, potentially, rheumatic heart disease. Despite the apparent burden of disease in many countries, there have been few large-scale surveys of scabies prevalence or risk factors. We undertook a population-based survey in Fiji of scabies and impetigo to evaluate the magnitude of the problem and inform public health strategies.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
A total of 75 communities, including villages and settlements in both urban and rural areas, were randomly selected from 305 communities across the four administrative divisions, and all residents in each location were invited to participate in skin examination by trained personnel. The study enrolled 10,887 participants. The prevalence of scabies was 23.6%, and when adjusted for age structure and geographic location based on census data, the estimated national prevalence was 18.5%. The prevalence was highest in children aged five to nine years (43.7%), followed by children aged less than five (36.5%), and there was also an indication of prevalence increasing again in older age. The prevalence of scabies was twice as high in iTaukei (indigenous) Fijians compared to Indo-Fijians. The prevalence of impetigo was 19.6%, with a peak in children aged five to nine years (34.2%). Scabies was very strongly associated with impetigo, with an estimated 93% population attributable risk.
CONCLUSIONS
As far as we are aware, this is the first national survey of scabies and impetigo ever conducted. We found that scabies occurs at high levels across all age groups, ethnicities, and geographical locations. Improved strategies are urgently needed to achieve control of scabies and its complications in endemic communities.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fiji; Humans; Impetigo; Male; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Scabies
PubMed: 25738499
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003452 -
The Korean Journal of Parasitology Dec 2020The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS...
The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists' interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Dermatology; Dermoscopy; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Physiologic; Ointments; Scabies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin; Sulfur; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 33412771
DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.6.669 -
The Western Journal of Emergency... Jul 2015
Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Antiparasitic Agents; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Insecticides; Ivermectin; Male; Middle Aged; Permethrin; Scabies; Skin
PubMed: 26265977
DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.5.27383 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Apr 2020Ivermectin-based mass drug administration has emerged as a promising strategy for the control of scabies and impetigo in settings where the diseases are endemic. Current...
BACKGROUND
Ivermectin-based mass drug administration has emerged as a promising strategy for the control of scabies and impetigo in settings where the diseases are endemic. Current follow-up data are limited to 12 months for the majority of studies. Longer-term data are vital to inform the sustainability of interventions.
METHODS
We conducted a prevalence survey for scabies and impetigo in 10 villages in Choiseul Province of the Solomon Islands 36 months after a single round of ivermectin and azithromycin mass drug coadministration. In the primary analysis, we compared the prevalence of scabies and impetigo at 36 months to the prevalence at baseline.
RESULTS
At 36 months, the prevalence of scabies was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6-6.1), which was significantly lower than at baseline (18.7%; relative reduction, 74.9%; 95% CI, 61.5%-87.7%; P < .001). The prevalence of impetigo was 9.6% (95% CI, 8.1%-11.4%), significantly lower than at baseline (24.7%; relative reduction, 61.3%; 95% CI, 38.7%-100%; P < .001). The highest prevalence of scabies was among children aged <5 years (12.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 33.2; 95% CI, 6.6-603.2), and the highest prevalence of impetigo was among children aged 5-9 years (16.4%; adjusted odds ratio, 8.1; 95% CI, 3.6-21.8).
CONCLUSIONS
There was a sustained impact of a single round of ivermectin and azithromycin mass drug coadministration on the prevalence of scabies and impetigo 3 years after the intervention. Our data provide further support to adopt this intervention as a central component of global scabies control efforts.
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION
Australian and New Zealand Trials Registry (ACTRN12615001199505).
Topics: Australia; Azithromycin; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Impetigo; Ivermectin; Mass Drug Administration; Melanesia; New Zealand; Prevalence; Scabies
PubMed: 31131410
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz444 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Jan 2020
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Pruritus; Scabies
PubMed: 32036855
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.060a -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2013Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Crusted scabies (previously known as Norwegian scabies) is a rare form,...
Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Crusted scabies (previously known as Norwegian scabies) is a rare form, very contagious and transmitted by direct contact with the skin. Despite being readily treatable, a delayed diagnosis often leads to widespread infestation of contacts, and therefore difficult to restrain. This case concerns a patient where dermoscopy (with scabetic burrows and a visible hand-glider structure), together with direct microscopic examination, allowed a prompt diagnosis, thereby reinforcing the increasing importance of this technique in daily practice.
Topics: Aged; Dermoscopy; Humans; Male; Microscopy; Pruritus; Scabies
PubMed: 24173196
DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132430