study of an outbreak of itchy skin lesions in Tanta University campus in Kafr Al-Sheikh

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in Tanta University Campus in Kafr Al-Sheikh. It was conducted to find the nature and the underlying factors of itchy skin lesions that appeared among some of the campus residents. The work included dermatological, histopathological, entomological, and epidemiological studies in addition to surveying the surrounding environment. The target population involved all the affected cases [86 females] and a sample of the non-affected residents [100 females]. Dermatological and histopathological examination of the lesions indicated a contact dermatitis. The epidemiological study revealed that the situation could be considered an outbreak. The environmental survey and the circumstantial evidences pointed out to an insect that was found to be a beetle known as Paederus alfierii Koch. The direction of both the wind and the smoke, that resulted from the burnning dry remains of plants were the factors that induced the insect movement towards the females campus where the outbreak was reported. Our recommendations included dealing with the environment, use of insecticides, prohibition of burnning of the dry remains of plants, and screening of windows and doors of the residential buildings