Prevalence of Scabies in the Covid-19 Pandemic Period and Determination of Risk Factors for Scabies: a Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Northeast Turkey.

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in the incidence of scabies in Turkey, which started before the Covid-19 pandemic, and this situation is considered as an epidemic. With this study, we aimed to reveal the prevalence of scabies during the pandemic period and the risk factors that are effective in the transmission of scabies. METHODS: Our study was performed as a cross-sectional study in 376 patients who applied to our dermatology outpatient clinic between 1st and 30th April 2021. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, living space, health behavior, and health care utilization of the patients were questioned. RESULTS: The prevalence of scabies was determined as 10.9%. Features such as sex, area of residence, age, formal education status, employment status, total income, number of shower, number of people per room, water source, and heating method, which were found to be significant as a result of the double test, were included in the logistic regression analysis. Scabies was found 2.728 times (CI 1.325-5.557) more in those who live in rural areas than those who live in urban areas, 2.714 times (CI 1.365-5.451) more in men than women, 2.707 times (CI 1.256-5.833) more in nonworking than working, 2.354 times (CI 1.057-5.243) more in those with less than 9 showers per month than those with 9 or more showers per month. CONCLUSION: During the Covid-19 pandemic period, the prevalence of scabies in Turkey is increasing and it is becoming a serious health problem. Our study emphasizes this increase and determines the risk factors for transmission.

Evaluation of a mass measles vaccination campaign among school children aged 7-14 years old in Denizli, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pre-campaign level of measles seropositivity and to evaluate the effect of a mass measles vaccination campaign on measles seroposivity among primary school children in Denizli, Turkey. METHODS: The study was completed in two socioeconomically different areas of Denizli, Turkey, with a sample size of 520 students. One primary school from each area and one classroom from each grade were randomly included in the sample. Before and 2-months after the measles mass vaccinations, blood samples were collected from the students and measles specific IgGs were studied. RESULTS: The pre-campaign overall seropositivity was 74.7%. Post-campaign overall seropositivity increased to 96.5%. Pre-campaign seropositivity among 8-graders was significantly lower than that in other grades (57.5%, p<0.001) and the difference was explained by the number of vaccinations 8-graders received. Except for the number of vaccination doses, other factors did not have any effect on seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The mass measles vaccination programs have a potential to control measles for developing countries. In addition, more than one dose of measles vaccination is required for developing countries.

Cost of Alzheimer's disease in a developing country setting.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the economic impact of AD in Denizli, Turkey. DESIGN AND METHODS: This observational study was conducted with 42 AD patients and their primary caregivers. During the initial interview, demographic data and medical histories were collected with questionnaires. For an observational period of 15 days, data on time spent for patient care were collected using standard forms. Calculations on direct cost (e.g. per day medication, outpatient physician visits during the last 3 months), indirect cost (e.g. time spent for care by caregiver for daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)) were made by summing up and taking averages of the appropriate items. ANOVA, and linear regressions were the methods for comparisons. RESULTS: The primary caregivers of the patients mainly were their children and/or spouses. The maximum mean time spent (h/week) was 21.0 (17.5) for severely damaged cognition. The average annual cost per case was between $1,766 [95% Confidence Intervals (CI); 1.300-2.231] and $4,930 (95% CI; 3.3714-6.147). The amount of caregiver cost was the most significant item in the overall cost and it showed an increase with the declining cognitive function of patients. Daily medication cost reflected the same pattern. In contrast, cost of outpatient physician was the lowest among the patients with the worst cognition. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that recently AD has become a significant cost for developing countries. This pilot study gives an idea of the cost of AD in developing countries where determining the actual cost can be difficult.