Scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Complex responses to scabies mites in the innate, humoral, and cellular immune systems can cause skin inflammation and pruritus. Diagnosis can be challenging because scabies resembles other common skin conditions. We report the first Korean case of scabies in a hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipient, initially suspected of skin graft versus host disease (GVHD). A T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia patient underwent a sibling-matched allogeneic HCT and developed pruritus after cell engraftment. Treatment for GVHD did not improve the symptoms. He was diagnosed with scabies 30 days after the onset of symptoms.
Diagnosis ; Graft vs Host Disease* ; Humans ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Mites ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Pruritus ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies* ; Skin ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Female* ; Humans ; Sarcoptes scabiei*

Scabies is caused by a mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, an obligate human parasite that burrows downwards into the epidermis. Scabies may be transmitted from objects, but it is most often transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, with a higher risk from prolonged contact. Treatment must involve the entire household or community to prevent reinfection. In Korea, the incidence of scabies has decreased dramatically since the late 1980s, but recent outbreaks in nursing homes and hospitals have been raising public health concerns. Herein, we describe 5 cases of scabies that occurred in 3 generations of a family and were confirmed by dermoscopy-oriented skin scraping with microscopic examination.
Dermoscopy ; Diagnosis* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidermis ; Family Characteristics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lindane ; Mites ; Nursing Homes ; Parasites ; Public Health ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies*

We report a rare case of bullous scabies with bullous pemphigoid in a 59-year-old male patient. He presented with a 9-month history of exhibiting multiple, variable-sized, red-to-brown, pruritic cutaneous patches, and papules with tense bullae on his whole body. A direct smear of the bullous lesions was performed and was negative for scabies mites. Histopathologic findings (hematoxylin and eosin staining) revealed Sarcoptes scabiei in the stratum corneum. There were sub-epidermal blisters with massive eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltration in the epidermis and upper dermis. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy showed linear deposition of IgG at the dermo-epidermal junction. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy of samples acquired for the salt-split skin test showed linear IgG deposition in the epidermis. Skin lesions improved after the patient was treated with an anti-scabietic and steroids.
Blister ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Microscopy ; Middle Aged ; Mites ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies* ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Steroids ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Scabies is an ectoparasite caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, an obligate human parasite. Although its incidence has been decreasing, it is not a rare dermatologic disease and is difficult to diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of scabies patients and find out etiologic factors in transmission. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-five patients who were diagnosed with scabies at the Dermatologic Department, Myongji Hospital, Goyang city, Korea were enrolled. Medical records were evaluated in a retrospective manner. RESULTS: We studied 295 scabies patients who were diagnosed by the mineral oil test or skin biopsy. The mean age of the patients was 58.2 (male: 56.7/female: 61.2), and 74% of patients were over 60 years. There was seasonal variation in occurrence, and scabies was found to be most common in winter. The majority of suspected routes of infection were transmission through convalescent hospitals (38.1%) and caregivers (15.2%). Nosocomial infection and communal living were the major causes. 73.8% of scabies patients had underlying medical disease, such as hypertension (32.2%) and dementia (11.9%). CONCLUSION: Currently, scabies prevalence is still increasing in Goyang city, because of the increased number of convalescent hospitals.
Biopsy ; Caregivers ; Cross Infection ; Dementia ; Hospitals, Convalescent ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mineral Oil ; Mites ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Seasons ; Skin

Scabies is one of the most common world-wide arthropod-born diseases in both humans and animals caused by the "itch" mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The incidence of scabies has shown a tendency to increase for the last several years in Korea. The previous peak incidence in Korea was between the early 1970s and early 1980s. A substantial part of the cyclic resurgence of scabies has been considered the result of inexperience and indifference of medical doctors toward the disease. The recent resurgence is presumed to be derived from not only indifference of the doctors but also an increase in elderly patients admitted to nursing homes and eldercare hospitals. Scraping using mineral oil for scabies patients is a very simple and effective method for definite diagnosis. A new diagnostic method using a dermoscope is also effective, especially for very young patients. Lindane and crotamiton are two available antiscabietic preparations in Korea. Crotamiton is less effective, while infants and pregnant women should not use lindane. In conclusion, medical personnel should be alert coping with the resurgence of scabies, and it is strongly suggested that other antiscabietic drugs such as permethrin, ivermectin, etc. should be made available for resistant patients in the near future in the Republic of Korea.
Aged ; Animals ; Arthropods ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Ivermectin ; Korea ; Lindane ; Mineral Oil ; Mites ; Nursing Homes ; Permethrin ; Pregnant Women ; Republic of Korea ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Toluidines

Crusted (Norwegian) scabies is a clinical variant of human infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei, and is characterized by extensive, heavily crusted skin lesions. It usually affects immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis is commonly missed, and can lead to mismanagement. Here we report a case of crusted scabies misdiagnosed as a cutaneous side reaction due to allopurinol in a 48 year old male patient with acquired perforating dermatosis who had been treated with allopurinol for about 20 weeks. The lesion showed pruritic, excessive hyperkeratotic scaly crusts and fissures on the hands, and on pelvic, genital and inguinal areas. His skin lesions disappeared after treatment with 10% crotamiton cream for 2 weeks.
Allopurinol ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Toluidines

Norwegian or crusted scabies is a rare, highly contagious atypical form of scabies caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. homonis. It is usually associated with advanced age, immunosuppression, physical debility, and developmental disabilities. We report here a case of Norwegian scabies in an institutionalized patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Down syndrome. A 56-year-old male presented at our department with pruritic rash and general weakness of 2 months' duration. Examination showed hyperkeratotic, scaly, crusted erythematous plaques on the hands, trunk, and back of the patient. The microscopic examination of the skin scales with potassium hydroxide demonstrated numerous scabies mites. The patient was treated with hemodialysis and repeated applications of 1% lindane lotion for 2 weeks. He reported significant relief of pruritus and resolution of the skin lesions after the treatment. In addition to uremic pruritus, infectious skin diseases such as Norwegian scabies should be considered in the institutionalized patients with advanced CKD and resistant pruritus.
Developmental Disabilities ; Down Syndrome ; Exanthema ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydroxides ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lindane ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mites ; Potassium ; Potassium Compounds ; Pruritus ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Infectious ; Weights and Measures

Norwegian scabies is a crusted rash that's caused by a massive infestation with the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The characteristic skin lesions of this form are gross scaling and hyperkeratotic plaques, and especially on the hands, feet, face, nails and scalp with varying degrees of pruritus. It is often seen in the individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection, the elderly, immunocompromised patients and institutionalized persons. We report here on a case of Norwegian scabies on an 86-year-old patient who was living in an eldercare hospital, and the patient presented with localized, pruritic, erythematous patches with thick yelolwish crusts on the scalp.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Exanthema ; Foot ; Hand ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Institutionalization ; Mites ; Nails ; Pruritus ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Scalp ; Skin