Approximately 200 million cases of scabies are reported worldwide every year in people of all age groups. Scabies is a parasitic skin disease that is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei.

This study was a retrospective analysis of records of patients hospitalized with scabies. Six-year retrospective analysis of medical records of hospitalized patients with scabies at the Department of Dermatology was done. Age of patients, gender, comorbidities, clinical progression of the disease and treatment regimens were considered.

Overall, 193 patients were hospitalized with scabies; out of them, 96 patients were females (49.7%) and 97 patients were males (50.3%), including 33 children (17%). Mean age of patients was 52.9 years. Skin lesions continued 142 days on average and reoccurrence was observed in 14% of cases. Lesions were noted mostly during winter (31%). The most common manifestations were excoriations (73.6%), erosions (80.8%), papules (72.6%) and crusts (24.3%), that were localized largely on trunk (92%), lower (91%) and upper (86%) limbs. In all, 181 patients (93.8%) reported pruritus that intensified at night in 35.8%. Forty one patients (21%) reported previous contact with people with scabies. The most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary heart disease. The associated dermatoses were eczema, psoriasis and secondary superinfection. Eighty five patients (44%) were overweight. Patients were given mostly topical permethrin, glucocorticosteroids, crotamiton and antibiotics with oral antihistamines.

The analysis concluded that more frequent occurrence of scabies was seen in adults with no evident sex preference. A greater occurrence was observed in winter which might be due to people’s tendency to spend more time indoors and close to each other. Pruritus was the most common subjective symptom, which worsened at night.

Source: Nowowiejska J, Król ME, Dłużniewska P, Olszyńska M, Baran A, Flisiak I. Scabies –still current medical and social problem. A retrospective analysis of 193 cases. Przegl Epidemiol. 2019;73(1):19‐29. doi:10.32394/pe.73.03