Scabies among primary schoolchildren in Egypt: sociomedical environmental study in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area

Abstract

Background/objectives

Scabies is a major global public health issue that might affect people from all socioeconomic levels. The primary contributing factors in contracting scabies seem to be poverty and overcrowded living conditions. Scabies often spreads among schoolchildren quite rapidly, owing to their close contact and overcrowding within the schools. However, limited information is available about its risk factors and the socioeconomic correlates among schoolchildren in Egypt. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of scabies and its risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area, Egypt.

Methods

This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on primary schoolchildren in urban and rural areas of Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area. A predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection from the randomly selected 2,104 children, and clinical dermatological examination was done for them.

Results

Out of 2,104 children studied, there were 92 cases of scabies with a prevalence of 4.4%. The prevalence of scabies infestation in male students was 3.9%, while it was 4.8% in females, with no statistical significance. The results showed significant variations in the risk of scabies infestation by factors such as residence, paternal education and occupation, maternal education, sleeping with others, having animals at home, dealing with animals outside the house, type of building for living, family history of itchy rash, and sharing clothes with others.

Conclusion

In our community, scabies is still an important health problem affecting schoolchildren, especially in rural areas. It is characterized by a complex web of causation, particularly poor living conditions and low level of parents’ education.

Keywords:

• child
• prevalence
• risk factors
• scabies
• social conditions

Introduction

Scabies is a common parasitic infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies affects about 300 million people worldwide yearly.¹ Epidemiological studies indicated that the prevalence of scabies is not affected by sex, race, or age, and that the primary contributing factors in contracting scabies seem to be poverty and overcrowded living conditions.^2,3

Although the diagnosis of scabies in our third world communities and endemic areas is often easy and straight forward, it could be sometimes one of the most difficult diagnoses in dermatology. Scabies is easy to misdiagnose with other skin problems that are common among schoolchildren, such as papular urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and contact eczema. Epidemiological history, family history, occurrence of itching, which is most severe at night, and distribution of the lesions form the basis of the diagnosis.⁴

Infectious skin diseases and infestations like pediculosis and scabies are a common problem in schoolchildren owing to close contact between classmates. Unfortunately, epidemiologic studies of skin diseases in schoolchildren are limited in Egypt, and assessment of their burden and patterns at schools may improve care through school health programs.^5,6

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of scabies and its risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area, Egypt.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Kafr El-Sheikh administrative area, which is the capital of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate that lies in the northern part of Egypt, along the western branch of the Nile in the Nile Delta. This administrative area includes 9 major villages, 38 small villages, and 246 manors. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of The Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, and by the educational department in the study settings. The study was conducted between September 2013 and February 2014 (autumn and winter seasons) during the school months.

Sampling

The sample size was determined using the Epi-Info program. The calculated sample size was 454 at 80% power and 95% level of confidence, with expected prevalence of scabies of 5% and a margin of error of 2%. The sample size was increased to 500 to improve the validity of results. A fourfold increase in the sample (2,104) was done to correct errors due to the clustering effect. The multistage sampling technique was used, whereby schools were stratified into two strata, urban primary and rural primary.

Schools were chosen randomly from each stratum to represent female and male students. A total of 862 students were chosen randomly from 5 urban schools, and 1,242 students were chosen randomly from 8 rural schools. All the schoolchildren chosen were from grades 4 to 9 primary because younger children (grades 1–3) were not able to understand and answer the questionnaire. None of the selected children declined to participate in the study (response rate 100%).

First, approval was sought from the headmaster of each of the selected schools. The schoolteachers were asked to help in organizing the interview sessions. A predesigned questionnaire was used, which included:

• Sociodemographic and environmental data: the level of education and the occupations of their parents, number of members of their families, number of rooms in their houses, number of persons who sleep with them in the same bed, presence of animals in their houses, manner of dealing with animals outside their houses, and the type of building of their houses.

• Family history of itchy rash, and sharing clothes with others.

• Clinical data used for diagnosis: students were asked about the presence of rash in their bodies, its site, and time of appearance.

Finally, clinical examination was carried out in a private room in each school by a single trained female dermatologist for each student separately to detect the presence of scabies. The diagnosis of scabies was made on clinical basis by the presence of persistent pruritic rash with itching increasing at night, and skin lesions in the form of characteristic burrows, vesicles, and itchy papules or nodules in characteristic sites of the disease (on the wrist, sides and web spaces of the fingers, the axillae, periareolar, periumbilical, abdomen, and buttock areas), with liability to secondary infection with impetigo, folliculitis, or eczema.

Statistical design

Statistical analysis was done by using the software package for social studies (SPSS) version 19. The numerical variables were presented as the mean and standard deviation, while the categorical variables were presented as number and percentage. The crowding index was calculated by dividing the number of usual residents in a house by the number of bedrooms in the house. Factors predisposing to scabies were compared by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors that can independently affect the occurrence of scabies. The level of significance was adopted at the 0.05 level.

Results

The sociodemographic characteristics of the included schoolchildren and the distribution of those children according to these risk factors are provided in Table 1. Females constituted 51.7% of the included children. Fifty-nine percent of the children studied were from rural schools, and 41% were from urban ones. Out of the children studied, 92 cases of scabies were detected (Figure 1 shows some of them) with a prevalence of 4.4%.

Figure 1 Scabies infestation in primary school children.

Notes: (A) Scabietic lesions in the web spaces of a female student at primary school. (B) Scabietic lesions around the umbilicus of a male student. (C) Scabietic lesions on the cubital fossa and forearm of a male student. (D) Scabietic lesions around the umbilicus of a female student.

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of studied schoolchildren and distribution of children according to these risk factors for scabies

Sociodemographic risk factors	Total number (%)	Scabies cases n (%)	OR (95% CI)
Sex
Males	1,017 (48.3)	40 (3.9)	0.815 (0.535–1.242)
Females	1,087 (51.7)	52 (4.8)
Residence
Urban	862 (41)	28 (3.2)	0.618* (0.393–0.972)
Rural	1,242 (59)	64 (5.2)
Father’s education
Illiterate/primary	851 (40.5)	51 (6.0)	1.885* (1.237–2.870)
Secondary/university	1,253 (59.5)	41 (3.3)
Mother’s education
Illiterate/primary	934 (44.4)	60 (6.4)	2.441* (1.575–3.873)
Secondary/university	1,170 (55.6)	32 (2.7)
Father’s job
Unemployed/manual worker	1,093 (52)	65 (5.9)	2.304* (1.459–3.640)
Employee/professional/self-employed	1,011 (48)	27 (2.7)
Mother’s job
Housewife	1,660 (78.9)	77 (4.6)
Working		15 (3.4)	0.719 (0.409–1.362)
Manual worker	84 (3.99)
Employee/professional/self-employed	360 (17.11)

Note:

* Significant.

Regarding paternal education, 40.5% of the schoolchildren’s fathers were illiterate or had only primary education, while this number was higher for maternal education (44.4%). Also, 52% of the children’s fathers were unemployed or manual workers, while 78.9% of the children’s mothers were housewives (Table 1).

Among the schoolchildren studied, 3.9% of male children and 4.8% of female children were infested with scabies with no statistically significant difference (Table 1). Regarding residence, 3.2% of urban and 5.2% of rural schoolchildren were infested. Urban residence was found to lower the risk of scabies acquisition significantly (OR =0.618, 95% CI =0.393–0.972). Regarding education of parents, lower levels of parental education (illiterate or with only primary education) for either the father or the mother were found to increase the risk of scabies significantly (OR =1.885, CI =1.237–2.870 for paternal education; while OR =2.441, 95% CI =1.575–3.873 for maternal education) (Table 1).

The prevalence of infection among children with unemployed or manual worker fathers was significantly higher (OR =2.304, 95% CI =1.459–3.640), while children with working mothers had a lower risk of acquiring scabies than those whose mothers were housewives, and the difference was insignificant (OR =0.719, 95% CI =0.409–1.362) (Table 1).

Home environment characteristics of the schoolchildren studied and their relation to the risk of scabies infection are shown in Table 2. The crowding index was not found to affect the risk of infection with scabies significantly (OR =0.892, 95% CI =0.456–1.743), while those who used to sleep alone in bed had a significantly lower risk of scabies acquisition than those who shared a bed with others (OR =0.468, 95% CI =0.277–0.790). Dealing with animals either inside or outside the house was found to increase the risk of scabies infection significantly (OR =2.765, 1.681; 95% CI =1.672–4.573, 1.033–2.733 respectively). Living in houses built by hard brick was associated with a lower risk of acquiring scabies (OR =0.090, 95% CI =0.016–0.496) (Table 2).

Table 2 Home environment characteristics of studied schoolchildren and distribution of children according to these risk factors for scabies

Home environment risk factors	Total number (%)	Scabies cases n (%)	OR (95% CI)
Family size
3	48 (2.3)
4	343 (16.3)
5	958 (45.5)
6	473 (22.5)
7	171 (8.1)
8	62 (3.0)
9+	49 (2.3)
Crowding index
≤1.5	1,792 (85.2)	10 (4.0)	0.892 (0.456–1.743)
>1.5	312 (14.8)	82 (4.4)
Sleeping index
Alone	706 (33.55)	18 (2.5)	0.468* (0.277–0.790)
With others		74 (5.3)
With one person	952 (45.24)
With two persons	329 (15.63)
With three or more persons	117 (5.56)
Having animals inside house
No	894 (42.5)	20 (2.2)
Yes	1,210 (57.5)	72 (6.0)	2.765* (1.672–4.573)
Dealing with animals outside house
No	1,748 (83.1)	69 (3.9)
Yes	356 (16.9)	23 (6.5)	1.681* (1.033–2.733)
Type of building
Hard brick	2,098 (99.7)	90 (4.3)	0.090* (0.016–0.496)
Soft brick	6 (0.3)	2 (33.3)

Note:

* Significant.

Table 3 shows the clinical history characteristics of the schoolchildren studied and the distribution of the children according to these risk factors for scabies; 20.7% of the included schoolchildren had a history of itchy skin rash within the preceding 2 weeks. About 15.8% of the children included had a history of a family member complaining of itchy skin lesions within the preceding 2 weeks, and 22.5% of those were actually infested by scabies where that risk factor had a statistical significance (OR =29.99, 95% CI =17.44–51.60). Sharing clothes with other family members was reported by 34.3% of children, and this habit was found to significantly increase the risk of scabies infection (OR =2.492, 95% CI =1.635–3.797).

Table 3 Clinical history characteristics of studied schoolchildren and distribution of children according to these risk factors for scabies

Clinical history risk factors	Total number (%)	Scabies cases n (%)	OR (95% CI)
History of itchy skin rash within last 2 weeks
No	1,668 (79.3)	51 (3.05)
Yes	436 (20.7)	41 (9.4)	2.21* (1.098–3.911)
Family member with itchy skin lesion within last 2 weeks
No	1,771 (84.2)	17 (1.0)
Yes	333 (15.8)	75 (22.5)	29.99* (17.44–51.60)
Sharing clothes by family members
No	1,383 (65.7)	41 (3.0)
Yes	721 (34.3)	51 (7.1)	2.492* (1.635–3.797)

Note:

* Significant.

Table 4 summarizes the results of the binary logistic regression analysis of the factors related to the risk of scabies infection after controlling for potential confounders. Independently related factors included a lower level of maternal education, and a family history of itchy rash within the preceding 2 weeks (positive predictors of scabies), in addition to sleeping alone, not having animals in the house, and home building made of hard brick, which were all found to be negative predictors of scabies (all P<0.05).

Table 4 Multivariate analysis of risk factors affecting scabies infection among studied schoolchildren

Variable	Wald’s test value	P	95% CI of exp B
Mothers’ education
Illiterate/Primary	5.365	0.021*	1.118–3.796
Secondary/University	Referent
Sleeping
Alone	5.106	0.024*	0.319–0.922
With others	Referent
Having animals in the house
No	10.377	0.001*	0.255–0.717
Yes	Referent
Type of building
Hard brick	6.815	0.001*	0.017–0.558
Soft brick	Referent
Family history of itchy skin lesion
No	Referent
Yes	6.776	0.009*	1.181–3.257

Note:

* Significant.

Discussion

Epidemiological data about scabies infestation in schoolchildren provide valuable information about its risk factors and suggest a basis for methods of prevention and therapy.⁶

In this study, the overall prevalence of scabies in schoolchildren was 4.4% in the area studied. In a study done among schoolchildren in Ibadan, Nigeria, and in another study done on pediatric dermatology clinic patients in Kuwait, the prevalence of scabies was 4.8% and 3%, respectively.^7,8

On the other hand, high prevalence rates of scabies were reported among Indian children⁹ and among children in Karachi¹⁰ (10.16%, and 23.9%, respectively), and this could be attributed to density of population, overcrowding, and poverty in these localities.

In the current study, the difference in the prevalence of scabies between males and females was not statistically significant. This result was in agreement with the results of other studies in countries like Nigeria¹¹ and Turkey.¹² On the other hand, male predominance was observed in other Indian studies,^13,14 and this might be related to private social factors in each society or country.

The present study showed that the prevalence of scabies was higher among children from rural schools than among those from urban ones. Many other studies from other countries also support this finding.^13–15 This finding could be explained by larger family size in rural areas, leading to overcrowding, in addition to the decreased level of health education, poverty, bad behavioral habits such as sharing clothes and bed linen with others, and dealing with animals.

In agreement with a number of previous studies,^12,16 lower maternal education levels and nonworking mothers were found to predispose to scabies acquisition, with infestation found to be more frequent among children whose mothers were illiterate or only primarily educated housewives. It could be stated that educated mothers are more able to appreciate and utilize disease prevention and health care services for their children.

The prevalence of scabies in the present study was higher among children whose fathers were illiterate or only primarily educated, and also among those whose fathers were unemployed or manual workers. These results are in line with those of previous studies, which also demonstrated that illiteracy of adult household members was a very good predictor of the presence of scabies in developing and industrialized countries.^16–18 The education and occupation of the fathers are determinants of social class, and as the paternal level of education improves, the family income and hence availability of seeking better medical consultation also improves.

In the present study, it was found that sleeping with others, having animals in the house, dealing with animals outside the house, living in houses made of soft brick, having a family history of itchy skin lesions, and sharing clothes with others were all significant risk factors for scabies infestation. Many studies in our country and other countries also support these findings.^19–22 Feldmeier et al¹⁷ reported that illiteracy, low income, poor housing (absence of a solid floor, no access to electricity, no toilet in the compound), and sharing clothes and towels with other family members were all significant risk factors for the presence of scabies.

Karim et al¹⁶ demonstrated that children who slept on the floor with other children contracted more severe infection and became reinfected in greater proportions. This facilitates skin-to-skin contact and therefore the spread of scabies mites from infested to healthy children, as reported in Brazil,²⁰ Argentina,²¹ and Egypt.²² These findings could implicate close contact and the sharing of beds in the transmission of the scabies mite. On the other hand, Hay et al²³ reported that blankets and clothing do not appear to be important in the transmission of scabies, and that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that washing of clothing and blankets is necessary for the prevention of scabies spread. Hay et al²³ demonstrated that the mite is an obligate parasite and is highly susceptible to dehydration when off the host. At temperatures below 20°C, mites are almost immobile.

In our study, the crowding index did not have a significant impact on the prevalence of scabies. In contrast, Landwehr et al²⁴ and Wendel and Rompalo²⁵ reported that overcrowding is one of the predisposing risk factors for the transmission of scabies. Johnston and Sladden²⁶ also demonstrated that overcrowding is believed to have a significant effect on the spread of scabies, reflecting the fundamental role of physical contact in person-to-person transmission. They also demonstrated that a history of itching in several family members over the same period is almost pathognomonic.²⁵ However, lack of history of itching in family members does not exclude scabies.

Collectively speaking, the relationship between the prevalence of scabies and the relative levels of poverty, crowding, and hygiene within a community is complex. In addition, school environments increase the vulnerability of cross-infection, which can be passed to family members.

Limitations

The following limitations of the study have to be taken into consideration. First, data collection through cross-sectional study design may imply biased information, especially regarding hygiene habits (such as sharing clothes with others, and dealing with animals outside the house), with potential overreporting of favorable behaviors, for which controlling was difficult. Second, the study included children of young age who might have needed paternal cooperation in filling the questionnaire, but this was not possible. Third, diagnosis was carried out only on a clinical basis; however, owing to the large number of students and the time factor, it was not possible to validate confirmative burrow scraping and microscopic examination for all diagnosed cases. Finally, the study was conducted only during the autumn and winter seasons owing to the limits of the school time and summer holidays, and this might have influenced the prevalence of scabies as scabies is claimed to show higher incidence during the winter months; however, detecting and controlling this confounder was also difficult.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the findings of the current study confirm that scabies is still an important health problem affecting schoolchildren in our community, especially in rural areas. Poor living conditions (inadequate housing, sleeping with others, illiteracy, having animals in the house, dealing with animals outside the house, and sharing clothes with others) are important risk factors for transmission of scabies. Performing similar community-based studies on a larger scale and in different governorates in Egypt is recommended to throw light on the actual magnitude of scabies and other infectious diseases and health problems, particularly among schoolchildren of different ages. In addition, regular visits by medical staff and periodic clinical check-ups for schoolchildren, particularly in rural areas, to provide treatment and health education would be very beneficial.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.