Bilawal Farooq, Rana Sikandar Iqbal, Hafiz Shoaib Akhtar, Hassan Farooq.
Prevalence and Knowledge of Scabies among the rural area of Lahore.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;13(2):481-3.

Background: Scabies is a preventable skin disease that usually affects lower socio-economic strata and people living in overcrowded surroundings. Scabies is a highly contagious disease and is a significant public health problem in the developing world, with a disproportionate burden in children living in poor, over-crowded tropical areas. Aims: To find out the prevalence of scabies in a rural area of Lahore and to identify the risk factors associated with the scabies. Methods: This Cross-Sectional study was conducted from 1st July to 15th August 2018. Non-Probability Convenience Sampling Technique was used. Results:- The findings of the study reflected that out of 135 households, most (58%) of the families were Nuclear, majority (55%) households comprised of 6-8 family members and almost in half of the families 3 or more family members shared a room. Most (54%) of the respondents had no knowledge regarding scabies, its mode of transmission and preventive measures, but the personal hygienic practices of the families in the area were good. Scabies cases were present in 21% households, while 79% households were free of scabies. The Prevalence for scabies found in the area was 8.8%. A round 58% scabies cases were children <18 years of age whereas 42%were adults. The study found that family size (overcrowding) was significantly associated with occurrence of the scabies. Conclusions: This study found that 21% households in the area have scabies cases. The study found 8.8% prevalence rate of scabies in Baddoki village, and the disease is more common among children < 18 years of age.Although personal hygiene practices of the families are good in the area, but The respondents have a limited knowledge about the disease, its mode of transmission and preventive measures against it. The study highlighted a need of creating awareness regarding scabies at the community level.

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