Ignoring the "Itch": The Global Health Problem of Scabies

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 97; no. 6; pp. 1647 - 1649
• Main Authors: Stamm, Lola V, Strowd, Lindsay C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Antiparasitic Agents - therapeutic use; Developing Countries; Disease Outbreaks; Global Health; Humans; Ivermectin - therapeutic use; Permethrin - therapeutic use; Piece; Prevalence; Pruritus - drug therapy; Pruritus - epidemiology; Pruritus - parasitology; Scabies - drug therapy; Scabies - epidemiology; Scabies - transmission; Skin - drug effects; Skin - microbiology; Skin - parasitology; Skin Cream - therapeutic use; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - drug therapy; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - epidemiology; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - parasitology
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/AJTMH.17-0242

Infestation with var. is a common human parasitic affliction endemic in tropical developing countries. Scabies is transmitted by close person-person contact, and outbreaks have been reported in reception centers for asylum seekers. Scabies presents clinically as extremely pruritic excoriated papules and linear burrows in the skin. This infestation predisposes to bacterial skin infections that can result in serious complications affecting the kidneys and possibly the heart. Treatment of individuals with scabies and their close contacts involves the use of antiparasitic agents. First-line treatment is topical 5% permethrin cream. Community mass drug administration, followed by active case finding with targeted treatment, is a promising approach that can reduce the prevalence of both scabies and bacterial skin infections. Organizations such as the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies are advocating for the development of integrated disease control strategies in an effort to decrease scabies infestation worldwide.