A Study of Clinical Aspects of Scabies in the Jeonbuk Province / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Scabies is a contagious skin infestation primarily observed in poor or overcrowded environments. However, an individual may be affected regardless of hygiene and/or socioeconomic status, and/or age. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and epidemiology of scabies in patients visiting a single tertiary hospital in Jeonbuk province. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 194 patients with scabies who visited the Dermatology clinic at Wonkwang University Hospital between June 2015 and May 2018. RESULTS: Of the 194 patients investigated, 82 (42.3%) were men and 112 (57.7%) were women. The mean age of men was 46.3 years and that of women was 60.1 years. Scabies was diagnosed in patients most commonly in autumn. The most common symptom of scabies was the occurrence of papules (83.5%) followed by the presence of burrows (23.2%). The most common route of infection was a nursing hospital (26.3%), except unknown (29.4%). Medications used to treat scabies included 5% permethrin cream, 10% crotamiton ointment, and 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. The mean duration of treatment was 33.9 days using 5% permethrin cream, 34.8 days using 10% crotamiton ointment, and 34.6 days using 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. CONCLUSION: This study could help in the prevention and management of scabies, by guiding clinicians in choosing optimal therapeutic agents based on patients' condition.