Scabies Awareness and Fear of Scabies Scale-10

Abstract

Since ancient times, many epidermal parasitic skin diseases (EPSD) have affected people worldwide. Scabies as an EPSD is causing a considerable burden, especially in " underprivileged populations, " yet it has received very little attention by the scientific community and healthcare providers [1,2]. Human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var.hominis commonly called scabiesburrows under the skin and is transmitted through close personal contact. Infected person feels intense itching and rash on the skin caused by sensitization to the proteins and feces of the parasite [3]. Severe pruritus, especially at night is the most common and the first symptom that appears which is often followed by " scabies rash " (popular eruption). These symptoms may affect much of the body or be limited to some common sites such as finger webs, wrists, elbows, armpits, penis, nipples, waist, buttocks, and shoulder blades. Because of the intense itching, the lesions often get infected by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Scabies is a highly contagious infection affecting all races, ages, and social classes worldwide. It used to be a problem of the under-developed countries, however, in recent years this problem has made an impact in developed countries due to increased traveling and globalization [4]. According to World Health Organization, worldwide there are over 300 million cases of scabies each year [5]. In a systematic review of 48 studies, scabies prevalence was found to be highest in the Pacific and Latin American regions, substantially greater in children than adolescents and adults. The authors concluded that comprehensive scabies control strategies are urgently needed. They suggested that the program should include community-based mass drug administration and a systematic monitoring of disease burden in the epidemic areas [6]. Although there is a plethora of studies concerned with psychosocial effects of many other diseases, no study to my knowledge has addressed the problem of human scabies in this context. Also, no study to my knowledge has devised or included a scabies awareness and educational component in the prevention and control plan. Therefore, the purpose of the present exploratory study was to test an educational component for the scabies prevention and control programs. This was accomplished Abstract