Assessment of Clinical Profile and Quality of Life in Scabies Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Introduction. Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptesscabiei mite causing social stigma in patients owing to skin lesions over the exposed body-parts. The present study was aimed at assessing the quality of life in scabies patients. Material and Methods: This is a prospective, observational, non-interventional study conducted by the outpatient Department of Dermatology at Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimogaduration of 6 months period among 70 patients with scabies were selected among all the newly diagnosed scabies cases who attended dermatology OPD. Results: The total 70 new scabies patients attending skin OPD during 6month duration period were included in the study. The most common age group affected was 21-30 years in 33 (47.1%) patients.Out of total 70 patients, 36 (51.42%) were males and 34 (48.57%) were females. Total 27 (38.57%) students were affected followed by 15 (21.4%) housewives and least were retired person. Total 69 (98.5%) patients presented with itching and 48 (68.57%) patients had night aggravation of itching leading to sleep disturbance.Multiple body parts were affected in almost all patients. Most common site affected was interdigital cleft in 68.57% cases and least were face. The most common lesion seen was papules in 56 (80.0%) cases followed by excoriations in 55 (78.5%) cases. In children, the domain affected maximum was work at school in 8 (28.5%) followed by play and feeling of embarrassment in 7 (25%) cases each. Children reported no or minimal effect on quality of life. None of the patient had severely impaired quality of life.In adults, the feeling of embarrassment was the most common manifestation in 30.9% of the patients followed by difficulty in working at the work place in 19% of the patients. The least commonly affected domain was feeling of depression which was seen only in 14.2% of adults.Conclusion. Scabies moderately affected the quality of life of the patients in the present study in the form of feeling of embarrassment, stigmata and shame associated with disease.