The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.

<h4>Background</h4>Scabies and impetigo are common, important and treatable skin conditions. Reports from several Pacific island countries show extremely high prevalence of these two conditions, but for many countries, including the Solomon Islands, there is a paucity of epidemiological...

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Main Authors: Daniel S Mason, Michael Marks, Oliver Sokana, Anthony W Solomon, David C Mabey, Lucia Romani, John Kaldor, Andrew C Steer, Daniel Engelman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-06-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004803&type=printable
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author Daniel S Mason
Michael Marks
Oliver Sokana
Anthony W Solomon
David C Mabey
Lucia Romani
John Kaldor
Andrew C Steer
Daniel Engelman
author_facet Daniel S Mason
Michael Marks
Oliver Sokana
Anthony W Solomon
David C Mabey
Lucia Romani
John Kaldor
Andrew C Steer
Daniel Engelman
author_sort Daniel S Mason
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Scabies and impetigo are common, important and treatable skin conditions. Reports from several Pacific island countries show extremely high prevalence of these two conditions, but for many countries, including the Solomon Islands, there is a paucity of epidemiological data.<h4>Methodology</h4>Ten rural villages in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands were included in the study, chosen so that data collection could be integrated with an existing project investigating clinical and serological markers of yaws. All residents were eligible to participate, and 1908 people were enrolled. Participants were interviewed and examined by a paediatric registrar, who recorded relevant demographic information, and made a clinical diagnosis of scabies and/or impetigo, severity and distribution.<h4>Principal findings</h4>The total unweighted prevalence of scabies was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.5-21.0), and age and gender weighted prevalence 19.2% (95%CI 16.7-21.9). The adult prevalence of scabies was 10.4% (95%CI 8.2-13.2), and the highest prevalence was found in infants < 1 year of age (34.1%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] compared with adults: 3.6, 95%CI 2.2-6.0) and children aged 1-4 years (25.7%, AOR 2.6, 95%CI 1.7-3.9). Scabies affected two or more body regions in 80.9% of participants, and 4.4% of scabies cases were classified as severe. The total unweighted prevalence of active impetigo was 32.7% (95%CI 30.6-34.8), and age and gender weighted prevalence 26.7% (95%CI 24.2-29.5). The highest prevalence was found in children aged 1-4 years (42.6%, AOR compared with adults: 4.1, 95%CI 2.9-5.8). Scabies infestation was associated with active impetigo infection (AOR 2.0, 95%CI 1.6-2.6); with 41.1% of active impetigo cases also having scabies.<h4>Conclusions and significance</h4>Scabies and impetigo are very common in the rural Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Scabies infestation is strongly associated with impetigo. Community control strategies for scabies may reduce the burden of both conditions and their downstream complications.
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spelling doaj-art-47039f2ee79e417695ca313bb55891d42025-08-20T02:03:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352016-06-01106e000480310.1371/journal.pntd.0004803The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.Daniel S MasonMichael MarksOliver SokanaAnthony W SolomonDavid C MabeyLucia RomaniJohn KaldorAndrew C SteerDaniel Engelman<h4>Background</h4>Scabies and impetigo are common, important and treatable skin conditions. Reports from several Pacific island countries show extremely high prevalence of these two conditions, but for many countries, including the Solomon Islands, there is a paucity of epidemiological data.<h4>Methodology</h4>Ten rural villages in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands were included in the study, chosen so that data collection could be integrated with an existing project investigating clinical and serological markers of yaws. All residents were eligible to participate, and 1908 people were enrolled. Participants were interviewed and examined by a paediatric registrar, who recorded relevant demographic information, and made a clinical diagnosis of scabies and/or impetigo, severity and distribution.<h4>Principal findings</h4>The total unweighted prevalence of scabies was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.5-21.0), and age and gender weighted prevalence 19.2% (95%CI 16.7-21.9). The adult prevalence of scabies was 10.4% (95%CI 8.2-13.2), and the highest prevalence was found in infants < 1 year of age (34.1%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] compared with adults: 3.6, 95%CI 2.2-6.0) and children aged 1-4 years (25.7%, AOR 2.6, 95%CI 1.7-3.9). Scabies affected two or more body regions in 80.9% of participants, and 4.4% of scabies cases were classified as severe. The total unweighted prevalence of active impetigo was 32.7% (95%CI 30.6-34.8), and age and gender weighted prevalence 26.7% (95%CI 24.2-29.5). The highest prevalence was found in children aged 1-4 years (42.6%, AOR compared with adults: 4.1, 95%CI 2.9-5.8). Scabies infestation was associated with active impetigo infection (AOR 2.0, 95%CI 1.6-2.6); with 41.1% of active impetigo cases also having scabies.<h4>Conclusions and significance</h4>Scabies and impetigo are very common in the rural Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Scabies infestation is strongly associated with impetigo. Community control strategies for scabies may reduce the burden of both conditions and their downstream complications.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004803&type=printable
spellingShingle Daniel S Mason
Michael Marks
Oliver Sokana
Anthony W Solomon
David C Mabey
Lucia Romani
John Kaldor
Andrew C Steer
Daniel Engelman
The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
title_full The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
title_fullStr The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
title_full_unstemmed The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
title_short The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey.
title_sort prevalence of scabies and impetigo in the solomon islands a population based survey
url https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004803&type=printable
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