Epidemiology of Sarcoptes Scabiei in General Population of District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Sarcoptes scabiei is a common ectoparasite of skin that is contributed to globally endemic skin parasitic infections. In current study, 273 samples were collected from August 2023 to July 2024 in various hospital and dermatology clinics of District Karak. Current study was accomplished to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of scabies in three different Tehsils of District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Out of 273 scabies samples, 107 showed positive result and prevalence of scabies in District Karak was 39.19% recorded. The current study show that children (51.4%) were most affected, more ever the infection was more common in male (60.7%) as compared to female (39.3%). In District Karak, scabies was more frequent in Tehsil Karak (42.1%) as compared to Tehsil Takhti Nasrati (34.58%) and Tehsil Banda Daud Shah (23.36%). In this study, the close contact of patients were also reported scabies (78.5%) which is significant risk factor for spreading of scabies disease. Scabies is a common contagious skin disease that has a high infection rate with seasonal variation pronounced more during winter season (53.3%). In current study, Majority of respondents (83.2%) share clothes, bed sheets and other fabric materials with family members while most of scabies patients (87.9%) were unaware about scabies transmission and prevention from its infestation. Current study suggests that scabies is prevalent (39.19%) in studied population and there is a need to promote mass scale deworming and health promotion campaigns to create awareness about health and hygienic environment.

Keywords: Scabies, Skin Disease, Epidemiology, Gender, Age Group, Winter, Awareness, Risk Factors, Relatives, Clothes, Prevention, Karak, Pakistan.