Abstract
Background: Outbreaks of scabies in residential institutions is not reported so far particularly on socio-economic consequences.
Study design: Community-based clinico-epidemiological study in children from randomly selected 6 institutions in Dhaka.
Objectives: Study socio-economic profile, water-sanitation facilities, personal hygiene and living conditions of these children.
Methodology: Prospective study (clinical Check up & direct interviews).
Results: Of 492 scabies-infested-children, 92.5% were boys (mean age:11.2±2.4 years), 63% of fathers and 98% mothers of whom were illiterate/had primary education. While 55% of their fathers were low-paid workers, 99% mothers were housewives. Of 98% children with scabies, 71% had been re-infected (96% during winter), randomly assigned anti-scabies drugs revealing a cure rate of 85.5%. Majority(74%) used to live in poorly-ventilated damp rooms with bizarre/overcrowded sleeping arrangements and had poor personal hygiene:21% shared towels; 8% shared undergarments; 30% shared bed linen; and 81% kept their used clothes on same communal string/shelf. Sanitation was poor too:39% bathed infrequently, although 97% used to do mandatory ablution. Most children(61%) washed their clothes(including undergarments) 2-3times a fortnight, 35% did so every 2-3 days and 3.7% washed their clothes on alternative days. Disease severity and re-infection were associated with infrequent washing of clothes (P< 0.001) and bed linen(P< 0.001), overcrowded sleeping arrangements(P< 0.001) and infrequent bathing without(P< 0.001) & with soap(P< 0.001)-which was related to family income(P< 0.001, both).
Conclusion: These findings having potentially dangerous implications for public health, demands immediate attention to developing sustainable long-term intervention programs to combat scabies hyperendemicity (?silent epidemics) to save thousands of children from impending serious complications.
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Anwar, K., Karim, S. & Mollah, M. Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Children Infested with Community Acquired Scabies in Densely Populated Residential Institutions in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 292 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.517
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.517