ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Scabies is not a notifiable disease in most countries. Therefore, its seasonality trends are usually estimated and may be inaccurate. OBJECTIVES: To determine the seasonality of scabies over the long term in a large military population, including all of the Israel Defence Forces personnel. METHODS: For the last two decades, the Israel Defence Forces have mandated the routine reportage of every case of scabies infestation in soldiers to the Epidemiology Department of the Army Health Branch. This database was used in the present study to analyse the incidence of scabies by season. Scabies was defined according to the report by a military physician based on the typical clinical presentation, relevant epidemiological data and, in most cases, microscopic visualization of the mite. RESULTS: The person-time incidence of scabies was higher in winter than summer (P < 0.001). The overall risk ratio was 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.28-1.33). Sensitivity analysis indicated that no single year was an important source of disease heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Scabies in a young adult population is more frequent in the cooler months of the year.
Subject(s)
Scabies/epidemiology , Seasons , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Israel/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Military PersonnelABSTRACT
In winter 2001, an outbreak of pertussis involving an estimated 75 people occurred among soldiers serving in an infantry regiment of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from patients and contacts for culture and PCR. Serum samples were obtained and assayed by ELISA for the presence of IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies to a lysate antigen of Bordetella pertussis. The calculated attack rate was 21% based on clinical signs alone (cough lasting 30 days or longer) and 9.5% based on clinical signs with laboratory confirmation (by PCR, IgA or IgM). A high carriage rate was observed; 20% of the asymptomatic and previously symptomatic subjects were PCR-positive for B. pertussis. These findings emphasize the importance of B. pertussis as a causative agent of epidemic respiratory infections in young adults and reveal the occurrence of a significant proportion of pertussis transient carriers during an outbreak of the disease.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Military Personnel , Whooping Cough/epidemiology , Adult , Bordetella pertussis/genetics , Bordetella pertussis/immunology , Bordetella pertussis/pathogenicity , Carrier State , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin A/analysis , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Immunoglobulin M/analysis , Israel/epidemiology , Male , Nasopharynx/microbiology , Pertussis Vaccine , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Whooping Cough/immunologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is not mandatory to report Pediculosis capitis and Phthirus pubis in most countries; therefore, little is known about the seasonality of these infestations. METHODS: We analysed the data based on routine and mandatory reporting of every case of Pediculosis capitis and Phthirus pubis to the Army Health Branch Epidemiology Department, Israel, over the last two decades. RESULTS: The average 20-year incidence of Pediculosis capitis shows a significant rise during the warmer months (R2 = 0.692, P < 0.05) with a parallel significant decrease in the cooler months (R2 = 0.893, P < 0.05). The results for Phthirus pubis show a significantly higher person-time incidence in the winter (P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis to investigate possible sources of heterogeneity during this time indicated that no single year was an important source of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Pediculosis capitis is more frequent in the warmer months, whereas Phthirus pubis is more dominant in the cooler months.
