PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON SARCOPTES SCABIEI INFECTION INHADHRAMOUT GOVERNORATE (YEMEN)

Baswaid Saeed Haj

Faculty of Science - Mukalla – Hadhramout University of Science & Technology, P. O. Box 60010

Email : drbaswaidsh@hotmail.com or hfsc_2005@yahoo.com

INTRODUCTION:

                The Athropodan mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, is essentially, the causative agent of the pruritic rash (mite itch) in Human. This microscopic, cosmopolite parasite, lives in cutaneous burrorws, where the fertilised female deposites eggs^[1,2].

                This disease is not countered among the declared public health diseases^[3,4], and literature, reveals no previous studies about this contagious disease in Yemen. Our preliminary statement of this infection is the first study in Yemen, mainly in Hadhramout governorate and generally in other governorates of Yemen. This is also a spotlight on its distribution through some regions of Yemen, to orient further investigations about the real prevalence of this dermal public health problem.

THE SURVEY DATA:

                Data on prevalence of scabies are collected from the registry cases of infected patients (males and females), who consulted the dermatology Department in Ibn Sina Hospital, Mukalla/Hadhramout (Yemen), during the period from 1999 to 2004 (six years). The diagnosis of all these cases is confirmed by skin scrabing techniques, resulting in the demonstration of mites, eggs, or scybala (fecal pellets)^[2].. Bbecause the mites are located under the skin, the scrabings must be made from the infected area.

RESULTS:

                Data confirms that scabies contagious disease is present in many regions of Hadhramout governorate. Figure (1), illustrates the positive cases (in percentage versus sex) diagnosed at the department of dermatology in “Ibn Sina Hospital“, during six years. This arthropodan parasite affects males and females but in favor of males. Figure (2), indicates the infection versus age, high percentage of infection is occur in patients aged 10-30 years (100 cases = 51.56%). It is also to be noted that babies aged of 45 days, 2 months and 11 months are also contacted the disease. More over, persons from the same families get the disease ((Halla/Ibn Sina Sector/Hdhathim and Wadi Amed, two each)). Four patients aged 80/80/80/82 (one female and three males) respectively come from; Fowah, Maifa’a, Alraidah Alshargia and Mukalla city respectively.

                The spectrum of the distribution of this disease covered most of the rural regions of Hadhramout. Additionally, its presence in patients came from other governorates of Yemen (Table 1).

The author, ensure that the percentage of patients is not does not reflect the real incidence in the region, because other patients consult other private health-care centers or try to treat the itch by traditional manners.

                These preliminary observations on Scabies incidence, mainly in Hadhramout, are spotlights on the importance of this public health problem and its high distribution. Consequently, more investigations must be carried on about its prevalence in the whole country.               

Fig. (1): Scabies prevalence in Hadhramout (6 years)

Fig. (2): Scabies prevalence versus age groups

Table (1) : Scabies infection cases of patients who came from other regions of Yemen.

DISCUSSION :

                Among the Sarcoptidae family, the human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis (Linnaeus, 1758) has been known, over 2, 500 years as the causative agent of scabies infection ^[5]. This obligate, highly contagious^[6], ubiquitous and debilitating dermatoses^[7] is widely spread all over the world^[8], where each year around 300 million cases of scabies are noted worldwide, specially in less developed countries, and from 6% to 27% of the population suffers from the disease^[9-11].

                In Yemen this disease is neglected from the declared infectious dixares ones, either in Hadhramout^[4] or in other parts of Yemen^[3]. This ectoparasitoses do not attract much clinical attention^[7], and although it is not a life threatening condition, yet it may be considered important from the public health point of view, because it is found globally, and it cause severe itching which is extremely distressing, and some cases may be complicated by post streptococcal glomerulo-nephrites^[6].

                The scabietic patients consult the dermatologist in case of high itching, vexing disorder or psychologic skin, otherwise, they try to treat the infection by traditional manners, that will not reflect the exact incidence in such regions.

          This Ectoparasitic infection which can be sporadic, endemic or epidemic^[7,12], may affect a large proportion of population in Yemen, because the facilities of socio-economic contacts of people from different regions of the country, as well as, climatic and hygienic conditions offer such facilities.

                Okoronkwo, 2003, states the strong association between scabies and personal hygiene, overcrowding^[13,14] and low socio-economic status. Others also observed scabies mostly in people of lower social classes^[15-17], and for this reasons the majority of scabietic patients in Hadhramout came from rural regions.

                In the actual study people of any age can suffer from scabies, this is also agreed with infection occurs in different parts of the world ^{(16,13,18,19)}. Our results also agreed with the fact that people aged more than 45 years showed less susceptibility^[18], and also support the highest incidence occur in the age group between
15-45 ^[20](between 10-40 in our study).

                In our study men suffer from scabies more than women which contradict with studies done in Turkey^[20], and India^[9], but also differs
from others coducted in Egypt^[6,17,21], South Africa ^[22], Cambodia^[13]and Denmark^[18].

                Finally, all attributing factors to scabies infection, either social or hygienic or climatic must be investigated in Yemen to obtain a correct basic information to plan a strategy against this public health problem. The incidence of this dermal infection can be reduced by improving the socio-economic and socio-cultural status of the communities^[7], and the promotion of hygienic concepts^[11], as well as, promoting more efficient health service and continuous surveillance.

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