Scabies among primary schoolchildren in Egypt: sociomedical environmental study in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area

Abstract

Background/objectivesScabies is a major global public health issue that might affect people from all socioeconomic levels. The primary contributing factors in contracting scabies seem to be poverty and overcrowded living conditions. Scabies often spreads among schoolchildren quite rapidly, owing to their close contact and overcrowding within the schools. However, limited information is available about its risk factors and the socioeconomic correlates among schoolchildren in Egypt. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of scabies and its risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area, Egypt.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on primary schoolchildren in urban and rural areas of Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area. A predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection from the randomly selected 2,104 children, and clinical dermatological examination was done for them.ResultsOut of 2,104 children studied, there were 92 cases of scabies with a prevalence of 4.4%. The prevalence of scabies infestation in male students was 3.9%, while it was 4.8% in females, with no statistical significance. The results showed significant variations in the risk of scabies infestation by factors such as residence, paternal education and occupation, maternal education, sleeping with others, having animals at home, dealing with animals outside the house, type of building for living, family history of itchy rash, and sharing clothes with others.ConclusionIn our community, scabies is still an important health problem affecting schoolchildren, especially in rural areas. It is characterized by a complex web of causation, particularly poor living conditions and low level of parents’ education.

Epidemiological study of patients infected with scabies caused by Sarcoptes scabiei in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq

“…Our results indicated that rural areas were more than urban areas in scabies infection with percentage 62.3% and 37.7%, respectively. These results are in agreement with Hegab et al [20] when they are proved that out of total of 2104 school children were infected with scabies there were 862 (41%) were lived in urban areas and 1242 (59%) were lived in rural areas in Kafr El-Sheikh in Egypt. Recently, Walker et al [21] in southern Ethiopia showed that peoples who lived in poor quality and crowded areas were more infected with scabies as compared with those lived in good quality areas.…”

Prevalence of scabies and its associated factors among school age children in Arba Minch zuria district, Southern Ethiopia, 2018

“…This finding was consistent with the study done in Doga-Tembi district Tigray [23], Gojjam Amhara region [17], and Egypt [10]. This might due to scabies mites can stay out of human skin for up to 48 hours, physical transmission of the female mites through fomites like clothes possible.…”

“…This study showed that children whose family member complaining of itching in the past two weeks were 7 times significantly higher than family member not complaining of itching. This agrees with study done in Egypt [10], and Tigray regional and SNNPR Ethiopia [23,24]. This might be due to frequent and prolonged body contact between family members sufficient to pass the mites in to others skin.…”

“…Overcrowding index: was calculated by dividing the number of usual residents in a house by the number of bedrooms in the house. If it is more than 1.5 overcrowded and if it is less than or equal to 1.5 not overcrowded [10].…”

Prevelance of Scabies among School Going Children in Kashmir

“…Comparable findings reported by [7] showed the prevalence in Egyptian primary schools (Kafr el-Sheikh) was 4.4% and likewise for Sohag [8]. A high prevalence rate of 10.16% was reported amongst Indian children, which may also be the result of a high density overcrowded population [9].…”