Background Itch is a common symptom in the general population. Affected individuals often do not seek medical consultation and rely on Internet searches to obtain information regarding their itch.Objectives The aim of this study was to attain insights into common concerns of the general population regarding itch can by analysing itch-related Internet search behaviour.Methods Google AdWords Keyword Planner was used to assess search volumes for itch-related terms in 15 European countries between September 2014 and August 2018. All identified keywords were qualitatively categorized. Itch-related terms were descriptively analysed and are shown as number of searches/100 000 inhabitants. ResultsThe search volume for the keyword 'itch' per 100 000 inhabitants was highest in Northern Europe, followed by Eastern, Central and Southern Europe. In 4/15 countries, itch was searched for more often in the autumn/winter months compared to in the spring/summer months. Most itch-related terms were related to dermatological conditions such as inflammatory skin diseases (e.g. psoriasis, atopic dermatitis), allergic or immunologic conditions (e.g. urticaria), and infectious diseases or infestations (e.g. scabies). In terms of body location, genitoanal itch dominated the searches. Symptoms and signs related to itch, possible non-dermatological aetiologies, and treatment options were also among the most searched terms.Conclusions These analyses provided for the first time insights into the search behaviour patterns related to itch across Europe. People from Northern and Eastern Europe are more likely to seek online information regarding itch.Causes for the itch, especially dermatological conditions, and genitoanal itch are the most important concerns for Internet users. This unconventional and inexpensive method identifies medical needs of people beyond the medical setting, including people who do not seek medical consultation. Accordingly, the data could be used to guide public health interventions and manage respective inhabitants' medical needs.
Purpose Scabies is a World Health Organization-defined neglected tropical disease and a growing public health issue worldwide. It is difficult to obtain reliable data on prevalence due to the lack of standardized tests. The aim of this study was to assess scabies online search behavior in Germany to identify local differences using Google search volume. Methods Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to investigate the scabies-related search volume for Germany as a whole, its 16 federal states, and 15 large cities for the period from January 2016 to December 2019. The identified search terms were qualitatively categorized and critically analyzed. Results A total of 572 keywords with an overall search volume of 11,414,180 searches regarding scabies were identified in Germany. The number of searches was higher in winter than in summer, with a national peak in March 2018. Around 30.6% of the searches regarding scabies therapy (n = 978,420) were related to home remedies. Regarding body localization, most searches focused on the whole body (n = 109,050), followed by head (n = 89,360) and the genital area (n = 28,640). Conclusions The analysis of Google search data provides an overview of the populations’ interest regarding scabies. The analysis can detect local peaks and assess the relevance of scabies at individual localizations of the body. The study highlighted current possible shortcomings in the therapy of scabies. It also underlined the importance of improving awareness regarding scabies so that affected individuals can consult a doctor earlier for treatment.
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