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

Abstract

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.

Increase of scabies infestations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Catalonia

“…Other studies showed some increases during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic but not to our extent [2-6]. In addition, although in a Spanish hospital the number of patients with scabies increased during the lockdown (March-June 2020) [3,6], we observed an expected number of diagnoses during those months that could be related to less primary care consultations as occurred with other relevant clinical conditions [8].…”

“…First, stay-at-home orders and quarantines probably contributed to more close contacts in households, increasing the risk of transmission [2,3,6,9]. Second, it has been suggested that daily habits including personal hygiene could have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in social interactions, the increase of in-home working and the temporary closure of workplaces [2-9]. Not showering regularly and being unemployed were previously identified as risk factors for scabies infestations [2].…”

“…Second, it has been suggested that daily habits including personal hygiene could have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in social interactions, the increase of in-home working and the temporary closure of workplaces [2-9]. Not showering regularly and being unemployed were previously identified as risk factors for scabies infestations [2]. Third, in recent years, there has been concern about the possible permethrin resistance [10].…”

“…More studies are needed to assess which are the causes underlying the current increase of patients with scabies reported here, but several reasons could play a role. First, stay-at-home orders and quarantines probably contributed to more close contacts in households, increasing the risk of transmission [2,3,6,9]. Second, it has been suggested that daily habits including personal hygiene could have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in social interactions, the increase of in-home working and the temporary closure of workplaces [2-9].…”

Prevalence of Scabies Cases in Two Public Hospitals Aden / Yemen

“…This study shows that a rise in the unemployment rate was associated with a higher incidence rate of scabies. Similarly, in study conducted in Poland (2019), the authors emphasized that unemployment is effective on scabies, in a study conducted in Turkey, Ural et al (2022) demonstrated also that scabies was more common in non-working than in working [53,54]. Unemployment is a situation that is expected to affect the socioeconomic status of the family, and therefore, the health, nutrition, housing, etc.…”