Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies

Objective: Scabies is a contagious cutaneous infestation characterized by intense itching. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features of scabies and the effect of scabies on quality of life, and the change in quality of life with treatment. Methods: This prospective and cross-section...

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Main Authors: Münevver Güven, Aybüke Parlakdağ Kılcıoğlu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2025-03-01
Series:Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi
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Online Access:https://turkiyeparazitolderg.org/articles/clinical-features-and-quality-of-life-in-patients-with-scabies/doi/tpd.galenos.2025.70894
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author Münevver Güven
Aybüke Parlakdağ Kılcıoğlu
author_facet Münevver Güven
Aybüke Parlakdağ Kılcıoğlu
author_sort Münevver Güven
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Scabies is a contagious cutaneous infestation characterized by intense itching. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features of scabies and the effect of scabies on quality of life, and the change in quality of life with treatment. Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study included 40 adults patients with classical scabies. Detailed skin examinations of the patients were performed. Dermatological life quality index (DLQI) was used to evaluate quality of life in patients with scabies. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to investigate the severity of nocturnal itching and itch-related sleep disturbance. VAS levels and DLQI scores of the patients were evaluated at baseline (week 0) and after treatment (weeks 2 and 4). Results: The most common lesion in patients was tunnel (100%), followed by papule (97.5%), crusted papule (85%) and excoriation (77.5%). The abdomen (90%) was the most common area of lesions, followed by hands (87.5%) and forearm (85%). It was determined that the quality of life of 75% of the patients was moderate to extremely large affected. There was a significant improvement in average DLQI scores of patients after treatment compared to before treatment (p<0.001, week 0: 11.50±7.81, week 2: 5.50±4.68, week 4: 1.05±2.08). The baseline VAS values of the patients for nocturnal itching and itch-related sleep disturbance were 7.22±2.80 and 6.30±3.60, respectively. A statistically significant improvement was detected in these values in the week 2 and week 4 (p<0.001). Thirty-nine of the patients were given 10% sulfur ointment (3 consecutive days) and 35 of these patients (89.7%) recovered. Conclusion: Scabies has significant impact on quality of life in the vast majority of patients. Itch-related sleep disturbance is common in patients with scabies. Sulfur is an effective treatment choice for scabies.
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series Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-b4e81eea88ba4690a537b7ac0296c8882025-08-20T03:52:56ZengGalenos YayineviTürkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi1300-63202146-30772025-03-01491293410.4274/tpd.galenos.2025.70894Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with ScabiesMünevver Güven0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8643-435XAybüke Parlakdağ Kılcıoğlu1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0832-3811Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Department of Dermatology, Aydın, TürkiyeAydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Department of Dermatology, Aydın, TürkiyeObjective: Scabies is a contagious cutaneous infestation characterized by intense itching. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features of scabies and the effect of scabies on quality of life, and the change in quality of life with treatment. Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study included 40 adults patients with classical scabies. Detailed skin examinations of the patients were performed. Dermatological life quality index (DLQI) was used to evaluate quality of life in patients with scabies. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to investigate the severity of nocturnal itching and itch-related sleep disturbance. VAS levels and DLQI scores of the patients were evaluated at baseline (week 0) and after treatment (weeks 2 and 4). Results: The most common lesion in patients was tunnel (100%), followed by papule (97.5%), crusted papule (85%) and excoriation (77.5%). The abdomen (90%) was the most common area of lesions, followed by hands (87.5%) and forearm (85%). It was determined that the quality of life of 75% of the patients was moderate to extremely large affected. There was a significant improvement in average DLQI scores of patients after treatment compared to before treatment (p<0.001, week 0: 11.50±7.81, week 2: 5.50±4.68, week 4: 1.05±2.08). The baseline VAS values of the patients for nocturnal itching and itch-related sleep disturbance were 7.22±2.80 and 6.30±3.60, respectively. A statistically significant improvement was detected in these values in the week 2 and week 4 (p<0.001). Thirty-nine of the patients were given 10% sulfur ointment (3 consecutive days) and 35 of these patients (89.7%) recovered. Conclusion: Scabies has significant impact on quality of life in the vast majority of patients. Itch-related sleep disturbance is common in patients with scabies. Sulfur is an effective treatment choice for scabies.https://turkiyeparazitolderg.org/articles/clinical-features-and-quality-of-life-in-patients-with-scabies/doi/tpd.galenos.2025.70894itchingquality of lifescabiessulfur
spellingShingle Münevver Güven
Aybüke Parlakdağ Kılcıoğlu
Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi
itching
quality of life
scabies
sulfur
title Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
title_full Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
title_fullStr Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
title_short Clinical Features and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies
title_sort clinical features and quality of life in patients with scabies
topic itching
quality of life
scabies
sulfur
url https://turkiyeparazitolderg.org/articles/clinical-features-and-quality-of-life-in-patients-with-scabies/doi/tpd.galenos.2025.70894
work_keys_str_mv AT munevverguven clinicalfeaturesandqualityoflifeinpatientswithscabies
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