RESUMO
Background: Scabies awareness can decrease the disease health burden. The objective was to assess the awareness and knowledge among people with scabies in a questionnaire based cross sectional, observational study.Methods: Study was questionnaire based, cross sectional, descriptive study. 200 consecutive patients with scabies were enrolled for it.Results: Of the 200 participants, 125 (62.5%) were males and 75 (37.5%) were females. People of all educational levels were affected from scabies ranging from illiterate 25 (12.5%) to graduates 44 (22%). 95 (47.5%) participants did not knew that itching can be because of scabies. 171 (85.5%) participants had no idea of mode of spread of the disease. 199 (99.5%) participants had no knowledge of treatment. None of the participants knew that scabies is preventable.Conclusions: There is a general lack of awareness and knowledge among the people regarding various aspects of scabies. Increased health awareness programmes with more educational and psychosocial support should be provided to the people. Mass drug treatment of scabies in the area should be provided instead of treating the individual patients
RESUMO
Background: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intralesional bleomycin in the treatment of common warts in 50 (32 men, 18 women) patients aged between 14 and 80 (mean ± SD, 28.5 ± 13.27) years. Methods: The warts were present over dorsal hands, feet, palms, soles and periungual skin for 1 month to 10 years. They were infiltrated with bleomycin (1 mg/ml) till blanching. The total cumulative dose did not exceed 2 mg in one session. The treatment was repeated after paring of eschar at 2 weeks in case there was no or partial response. The patients were reviewed at 4, 12 and 24 weeks for cure, adverse effects or recurrences and outcome satisfaction levels. Results: Complete cure without recurrence occurred in 40 (80%) patients and partial response occurred in 7 (14%) patients at the end of the 24-week study period. Three patients did not complete follow-up. No major systemic or local adverse effects other than injection site pain for 2–3 days were noted. All cured patients were very satisfied (Likert scale 5). Conclusion: Intralesional bleomycin appears to be an effective and safe treatment for common warts including palmoplantar and periungual warts. It carries the advantage of low dose, no significant adverse effects and high patient satisfaction. Small number of patients, lack of a control group, comparing different bleomycin concentrations and a short follow-up are a few limitations of this study. Better designed studies are warranted for this useful treatment modality.