Features of human scabies in resource-limited settings: the Cameroon case

Abstract

BackgroundThe persistent high prevalence of human scabies, especially in low- and middle-income countries prompted us to research the sociodemographic profile of patients suffering from it, and its spreading factors in Cameroon, a resource-poor setting.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey from October 2011 to September 2012 in three hospitals located in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and enrolled patients diagnosed with human scabies during dermatologists’ consultations who volunteered to take part in the study.ResultsWe included 255 patients of whom 158 (62 %) were male. Age ranged from 0 to 80 years old with a median of 18 (Inter quartile range: 3–29) years. One to eight persons of our patients’ entourage exhibited pruritus (mean = 2.1 ± 1.8). The number of persons per bed/room varied from 1 to 5 (mean = 2.1 ± 0.8). The first dermatologist’s consultation occurred 4 to 720 days after the onset of symptoms (mean = 77.1 ± 63.7). The post-scabies pruritus (10.2 % of cases) was unrelated to the complications observed before correct treatment (all p values > 0.05), mainly impetiginization (7.1 %) and eczematization (5.9 %).ConclusionHuman scabies remains preponderant in our milieu. Populations should be educated on preventive measures in order to avoid this disease, and clinicians’ knowledges must be strengthened for its proper diagnosis and management.

Scabies outbreak investigation among madrasahs in Sinana district, Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, May 2019

“…Regarding the distribution of scabies rash on the body parts, the side and webs of the nger were the most affected area followed by the exor aspect of the wrists, this being consistent with the nding of study conducted in the health facilities of Cameron [21]. This is due to these areas were favorable for the typical distribution of mites [3].…”

“…This supported by an unhygienic living condition or poor personal hygiene is favorable for scabies [5]. And rigorous personal hygiene is a preventive method [21].…”

Prevalence and drivers of human scabies among children and adolescents living and studying in Cameroonian boarding schools

“…The prevalence of scabies in this study (17.8 %) is higher than what has been reported from Malaysian secondary boarding schools (8.1 %) and some African school milieus, between 0.7 and 13 % [ 6 , 7 , 12 , 16 ]. It is comparable to the 18.5 % found by Pasay et al [ 17 ], but is lower than what was witnessed among children in a Malaysian welfare home (31 %), in a Turkish orphanage (33 %), in a Bangladesh Islamic religious school (61–62 %), in a Sierra Leone displacement camp (67 %) and in Thailand orphanages (87.5 %) [ 8 – 10 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Burden of human scabies in sub‐Saharan African prisons: Evidence from the west region of Cameroon

“…Human scabies, caused by an ectoparasite mite Sarcoptes scabiei hominis , is a frequent, cosmopolitan and contagious dermatosis that infects both men and women regardless of their socioeconomic background . This skin disease affects more than 300 million people per year worldwide, resulting therefore in considerable morbidity, especially in resource‐poor countries where the disease is endemic, and in medium to long stay institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes, crèches, schools and prisons . Dermoscopy, skin scrapings with direct microscopy or skin biopsy with dermatopathology are tools used to confirm the diagnosis of scabies; however, they may not be available in low‐income settings.…”