Scabies infestation: the effect of intervention by public health education.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of scabies in an infested village; to educate the residents on self-treatment and prevention by the use of 5% monosulfiram soap; to evaluate the short term effectiveness of this intervention by determining, 2 weeks later, the compliance to self-treatment and prevention; and to determine the prevalence rate on the second visit. In 59 households (96.7% of the village) containing 313 persons, an educational session was held and a leaflet distributed on the use and availability of the soap. Thirteen persons (4.2%) from eight households (13.6%) had scabies. After 2 weeks, 7 persons (2.2%) (2 persisting and 5 new cases) from 5 households (8.5%) were infested. Thus a cure rate of 85% was obtained though the prevalence rate showed no statistically significant difference. Among the under 15 year olds, the numbers infected decreased from 10 to 3 while among the over 15 years olds, the numbers infected increased from 3 to 4, neither reading significance at the 5% level.

• Authors: H F Reid, C D Thorne
• Journal: Epidemiology and infection (Epidemiol Infect) Vol. 105 Issue 3 Pg. 595-602 (Dec 1990) ISSN: 0950-2688 [Print] England
• PMID: 2249723 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Soaps
• monosulfiram
• Disulfiram

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Animals
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Disulfiram (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Compliance
• Prevalence
• Scabies (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Sex Factors
• Soaps
• Trinidad and Tobago (epidemiology)