Epidemiology of Scabies among Resident School and Madrasah Children: An Observational Study

Background: Scabies are prevalent parasitic skin diseases, especially in densely populated environments like resident schools and madrasahs, where close contact facilitates transmission. Factors such as overcrowding, inadequate hygiene, and shared personal items significantly contribute to outbreaks. This study investigated the epidemiology, features, and demographic distribution of scabies among resident school and madrasah children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Community Based Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from January 2023to December 2023. A total of 1131 resident school and madrasah children from several schools and madrasahs of both genders were enrolled purposively. Patient data were collected by using a predesigned questionnaire. The MS Office tools were used for data analysis.

Results: The study found a 21% prevalence of scabies. The highest prevalence was in children aged 7-12 years (48.10%). Most cases were from rural areas (70.0%). Regarding parental education, 52.70% of fathers had illiterate or primary education, while 65.8% of mothers were also in this category. The majority of fathers (67.9%) were unemployed or manual workers, and 84.0% of mothers were housewives. The primary stage was the most frequent (63%), and a portion of children had animals inside the house (31.3%) or interacted with them (28.8%). The majority experienced severe itching (99.2%) and night-time symptoms (98.4%).

Conclusion: The study found a 21% scabies prevalence, highest in children aged 7-12 years, mainly from rural areas. Many parents have low education, with fathers often unemployed or manual workers. Severe itching, night symptoms, and animal contact are common.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Madrasah, Resident Children, School, Scabies among, Skin.