Ectoparasites: Scabies

Abstract

Scabies is an ectoparasitic dermatosis caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis and is a public health issue in all countries regardless of socioeconomic status. In high-income countries, delays in diagnosis can lead to institutional outbreaks; in low- and middle-income countries, poor access to health care contributes to disease undertreatment and long-term systemic sequelae. With scabies now recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization, increased awareness and systematic efforts are addressing gaps in diagnosis and treatment that impede scabies control. This review summarizes the available data and provides an update on scabies epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and public health considerations.

Keywords: Sarcoptes scabiei; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pyogenes; crusted scabies; homeless; impetigo; infestation; ivermectin; mass drug administration; neglected tropical disease; optical coherence tomography; permethrin; poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis; pruritus; reflectance confocal microscopy; refugee; rheumatic fever; rheumatic heart disease; scabies.