Dataset Information

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of the skin, causing severe itching, stigmatizing skin lesions and systemic complications. Since 2015, the DerMalawi project provide an integrated skin diseases clinics and Tele-dermatology care in Malawi. Clinic based data suggested a progressive increase in scabies cases observed. To better identify and treat individuals with scabies in the region, we shifted from a clinic-based model to a community based outreach programme.

Methodology/principal findings

From May 2015, DerMalawi project provide integrated skin diseases and Tele-dermatological care in the Nkhotakota and Salima health districts in Malawi. Demographic and clinical data of all patients personally attended are recorded. Due to a progressive increase in the number of cases of scabies the project shifted to a community-based outreach programme. For the community outreach activities, we conducted three visits between 2018 to 2019 and undertook screening in schools and villages of Alinafe Hospital catchment area. Treatment was offered for all the cases and school or household contacts. Scabies increased from 2.9% to 39.2% of all cases seen by the DerMalawi project at clinics between 2015 to 2018. During the community-based activities approximately 50% of the population was assessed in each of three visits. The prevalence of scabies was similar in the first two rounds, 15.4% (2392) at the first visit and 17.2% at the second visit. The prevalence of scabies appeared to be lower (2.4%) at the third visit. The prevalence of impetigo appeared unchanged and was 6.7% at the first visit and 5.2% at the final visit.

Conclusions/significance

Prevalence of scabies in our setting was very high suggesting that scabies is a major public health problem in parts of Malawi. Further work is required to more accurately assess the burden of disease and develop appropriate public health strategies for its control.

SUBMITTER: Galvan-Casas C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8195395 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

Galván-Casas Cristina C Mitjá Oriol O Esteban Sara S Kafulafula Jacob J Phiri Texon T Navarro-Fernández Íñigo Í Román-Curto Concepción C Mtenje Hassani H Thauzeni Gerald G Harawa Elizabeth E Kaluzi Stephano S Diere Mphatso M Mkandawire Mary M Malizani Shaibu S Chifundo Alex A Utrera-Busquets Marta M Mónica Roncero-Riesco López Martín-Prieto Sara S Vilanova-Urdániz Iosune I Petiti Gisela H GH de Gálvez Aranda María Victoria MV No Pérez Nuria N Rueda Gómez-Calcerrada María M Iranzo Pilar P Escalonilla García-Patos Pilar P de Troya-Martín Magdalena M Romero Gomez Javier J Cardeñoso-Alvarez Esther E Lucas Truyols Sofia S Aspe Unanue Libe L Bajo Del Pozo Cristina C Comunión Artieda Alicia A Martínez González Maria Isabel MI López-López Omar F OF Moreno-Artero Esther E Cubiró Xavier X Meilán-Sánchez Iago I Tomás-Velázquez Alejandra A López-Sánchez Cristina C Sánchez-Martínez Eva M EM Edwards Harrison A HA Herrera Morueco Maria M Zehe Rubiera Julia J Salguero Caldera Laura L Blanes-Moreno Urbano U Uribarren-Movilla Maria M Marks Michael M

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20210601 6

<h4>Background</h4>Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of the skin, causing severe itching, stigmatizing skin lesions and systemic complications. Since 2015, the DerMalawi project provide an integrated skin diseases clinics and Tele-dermatology care in Malawi. Clinic based data suggested a progressive increase in scabies cases observed. To better identify and treat individuals with scabies in the region, we shifted from a clinic-based model to a community based outreach programme.<h4>Methodo ...[more]

PMID: 34061851

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Dataset Information

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions/significance

Publications

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

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