Prevalence of Itch Mites (Sarcoptes scabiei De Geer, 1778) among suspected patients visiting Dermatology Department of Kmcth, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Abstract

Scabies in human is caused by an arthropod parasite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The present study was designed to determine itch mite (S. scabiei) infestation among suspected patients visiting dermatology Department of KMCTH, Kathmandu, Nepal. Total 93 samples were taken by skin scrapping methods from clinically suspected patients and examined under microscope for confirmation. Beside scabies, prevalence of other skin problems was also assessed on the basis of the patient’s report card, and a well structured questionnaire survey was carried out among the suspected scabies patients for the assessment of risk factors. Result revealed the prevalence of scabies among suspected patients to be 3.23% with higher in male (2.15%) than female (1.08%). Scabies was equally distributed in all age and ethnic groups. All the scabies patients were sharing their room with more than two people and took bath twice a week. Most of them were living in a room without the presence of direct sunlight. However Dermatitis and eczema (23.86%) was the most common problem among all the patients followed by fungal (14.71%) infection which was very high in male patients. Another common problem was acne and was more in female of age group 15-25 years. Although, scabies can be diagnosed on the basis of characteristic symptoms on clinical ground, some advanced methods like dermatoscopy and serology can increase the efficiency in the diagnosis of scabies.