The public health control of scabies: priorities for research and action

Abstract

Scabies is a parasitic disease of the skin that disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations. Scabies causes considerable morbidity and leads to severe bacterial infection and immune-mediated disease. Recent scientific advances suggest that scabies is amenable to population-level control, particularly through mass drug administration. In recognition of these issues, WHO added scabies to the list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2017. In order to develop a global control program, key operational research questions must now be addressed. Standardised approaches to diagnosis and methods for mapping are required to further understand the burden of disease. The safety of treatments for young children, including with ivermectin and moxidectin, should be investigated. Studies are needed to inform optimum implementation of mass treatment, including the threshold for intervention, target, dosing, and frequency. Frameworks for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of control strategies are also necessary.

In vitro ovicidal activity of current and under‐development scabicides: which treatments kill scabies eggs?

“…Dear Editor , Scabies is highly prevalent worldwide, affecting 100–200 million people annually . It has a significant global burden in disability‐adjusted life‐years.…”

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil: A promising miticidal and ovicidal agent against Sarcoptes scabiei

“…Currently, topical permethrin and oral ivermectin are the two most commonly used treatments for scabies [32]. However, both drugs are only available for scabies in a limited number of countries over the world, and both drugs are expensive [2,33]. Scabies is epidemic in tropical developing countries, where overcrowding and poverty are common, and where there is limited access to treatment [34].…”

“…The clinical symptoms include intense itch, erythema, and more severe complications due to secondary bacterial infections [1]. Scabies was added to the WHO list of neglected tropical diseases in 2017, which highlights the substantial global health and economic burden, especially in low income populations [2,3].…”

Österreichweite Kampagne gegen Skabies

“…Die generelle Empfehlung für die Verordnung von oralem Ivermectin beruht auf publizierten Erfahrungen in der Bekämpfung von Skabiesausbrüchen in unterschiedlichen Weltregionen die gezeigt haben, dass die „Mass Drug Administration“ (MDA) von Ivermectin der alleinigen topischen Behandlung überlegen, sinnvoll und sicher ist . Ein offensichtlicher Vorteil der oralen Therapie mit Ivermectin ist die geringere Abhängigkeit der Wirksamkeit von der Compliance und eine vermutlich höhere Akzeptanz, vor allem bei Behandlung (asymptomatischer) Kontaktpersonen zu sein.…”