The Epidemiology Of Scabies In Gaza Governorates

An epidemiological study was conducted on 134 patients who were infested with scabies and were diagnosed   at Remal health center in Gaza over a period of 6 months (March 2005-September 2005). More infestation was observed in the age group less than 10 years but there was no significant difference in prevalence by sex (males 57% than females 43%) or age. The most common signs and symptoms were itching, skin burrows, papules and vesicular lesions. The most affected sites were the peri-umbilical area (91%), buttock (66.4), and hands (64.9%). The risk factors that were significantly associated with scabies infections in these patients were house by overcrowding, number of family members, education and occupation of the patients' parents.

Keywords: Sarcopetes scabiei, epidemiology, prevalence, Gaza Governorates