Illuminating the Mite's Maze: Global Scabies Disparities, Recurrence, and the Imperative for Integrated Public Health Solutions
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Abstract
Background: Scabies, a parasitic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, remains a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in resource-limited settings and vulnerable populations. Despite its widespread prevalence and considerable morbidity, it often receives inadequate attention, leading to diagnostic delays, recurrent outbreaks, and complications like bacterial superinfections. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidates recent research to provide a current overview of scabies epidemiology, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, and preventive measures. Aim and Objective: This study aims to systematically review and synthesize the current evidence on scabies to answer the unique question: "Why do disparities persist in scabies control outcomes globally, and how can integrated public health strategies overcome these challenges to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in diverse populations?" Material and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analyses was employed to identify and analyze studies on scabies epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention by searching for studies published between 2015 and 2025 from the electronic databases and finally eleven studies were considered. A total of 9576 subjects were included in the study. Results: The analysis revealed diverse epidemiological patterns of scabies across different geographical regions and populations, with school-aged children and individuals in long-term care facilities consistently identified as high-risk groups. The overall pooled estimate for scabies prevalence was 23% (95% CI: 6% to 40%). Conclusion: Persistent disparities in scabies control are multi-factorial, stemming from diagnostic complexities, treatment access, and inadequate public health infrastructure. Integrated strategies addressing these challenges, emphasizing early detection, effective treatment, and community-wide prevention programs, are crucial for mitigating the global burden of scabies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Manveen Kaur, Archana Suresh, Prathyusha Prabhakar, Jamila Hameed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Manveen Kaur, Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
Archana Suresh, Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
Jamila Hameed, Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
Department of Dermatology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, 678103, India.
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