BACKGROUND: Scabies is a contagious skin infestation primarily observed in poor or overcrowded environments. However, an individual may be affected regardless of hygiene and/or socioeconomic status, and/or age. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and epidemiology of scabies in patients visiting a single tertiary hospital in Jeonbuk province. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 194 patients with scabies who visited the Dermatology clinic at Wonkwang University Hospital between June 2015 and May 2018. RESULTS: Of the 194 patients investigated, 82 (42.3%) were men and 112 (57.7%) were women. The mean age of men was 46.3 years and that of women was 60.1 years. Scabies was diagnosed in patients most commonly in autumn. The most common symptom of scabies was the occurrence of papules (83.5%) followed by the presence of burrows (23.2%). The most common route of infection was a nursing hospital (26.3%), except unknown (29.4%). Medications used to treat scabies included 5% permethrin cream, 10% crotamiton ointment, and 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. The mean duration of treatment was 33.9 days using 5% permethrin cream, 34.8 days using 10% crotamiton ointment, and 34.6 days using 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. CONCLUSION: This study could help in the prevention and management of scabies, by guiding clinicians in choosing optimal therapeutic agents based on patients' condition.
Dermatology ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Lindane ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nursing ; Permethrin ; Retrospective Studies ; Scabies* ; Skin ; Social Class ; Tertiary Care Centers

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*

Female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 60-80 g were given different dosages of soy isoflavones and/or lindane for four weeks. Soy isoflavones was added in feed and lindane was given by oral gavage. We found that soy isoflavones could reduce the level of lindane in rat's serum and brain, but might cause the uterus hyperplasia. Lindane could inhibit the effect of soy isoflavones on uterus and significantly decrease the level of estradiol and testosterone in serum. This study indicated that soy isoflavones could reduce the level of lindane in rat's body. Lindane could reduce the level of hormones and decreased the effect of soy isoflavones on rat's uterus.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lindane ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Testosterone ; blood ; Uterus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish the median of serum markers for second trimester screening in Qingdao region and to assess the influence of median correction on the performance of screening.

METHODSMaternal serum alpha-fetoproteins (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin, free beta subunit (β -HCG) and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) were assayed for prenatal screening of 18 188 singleton pregnancies at 15-20(+ 6) weeks gestation from January 2009 to July 2010. The median of serum markers was calculated based on above results and applied for risk estimation in screening for fetal aneuploidy from August 2010 to March 2011. The screening performance, specified in terms of detection rates (DRs), false positive rates (FPRs) and odds of being affected given a positive result (OAPR) were compared between the two groups. The risks of 45 affected pregnancies detected during the study were estimated with both Caucasian and corrected medians.

RESULTSThe average level of AFP in local pregnancies was similar to that of the Caucasian population, whilst β -HCG and uE3 were respectively 11% and 33% higher than those of Caucasians. The multiple of median (MoM) value was between 0.94 and 1.02 for the dataset based on the corrected median. At a cut-off of l in 270, FPR has decreased from 5.2% to 4.9%, and DR of Down syndrome has increased from 60% to 69.2%, and OAPR has increased from 1:79 to 1:59 when evaluating risk based on the corrected median. For the 45 affected pregnancies, three Down syndrome pregnancies could be missed because their risk estimates were lower than the cut-off level based on Caucasian median.

CONCLUSIONIt is useful to establish and apply population and laboratory-specific medians in order to improve the performance of prenatal screening and diagnosis.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Estriol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lindane ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of quercetin (flavonoid) against lindane induced alterations in lipid profile of wistar rats.

METHODSRats were administered orally with lindane (100 mg/kg body weight) and quercetin (10 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days. After the end of treatment period lipid profile was estimated in serum and tissue.

RESULTSElevated levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and tissue triglycerides, cholesterol with concomitant decrease in serum HDL and tissue phospholipids were decreased in lindane treated rats were found to be significantly decreased in the quercetin and lindane co-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONSOur study suggests that quercetin has hypolipidemic effect and offers protection against lindane induced toxicity in liver by restoring the altered levels of lipids. The quercetin cotreatment along with lindane for 30 days reversed these biochemical alterations in lipids induced by lindane.

Animals ; Female ; Lindane ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; analysis ; blood ; Liver ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The scabies mite is an ectoparasite, which is able to infest humans. The incidence of scabies decreased during the past 20 years in Korea. However, the incidence is likely to increase again, and may be delayed or missed diagnosis recently. Its clinical presentation is typical, although in a host with compromised immune system, like the mentally retarded and elderly patients, the clinical presentation may be altered. Because a delay in diagnosis may induce rapid spread of the scabies mite, immediate diagnosis and treatment are necessary. We report two cases of scabies in elderly patients from different nursing homes. These patients were transferred to our center for treatment of pneumonia and chronic renal disease. They revealed pruritus and skin rashes after the treatment of further underlying diseases. We consulted to a dermatologist because of worsening symptoms, despite an application of medication with antihistamine and topical steroid, scabies was diagnosed. The symptom improved with topical 1% gamma-benzene hexachloride, an effective scabies drug. We suggest that geriatrists should suspect scabies who presents with pruritus that is persistent or resistant to conventional treatment, especially patients transferred from nursing homes.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lindane ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Mites ; Nursing Homes ; Pneumonia ; Pruritus ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Scabies

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

The aim of this article is to provide guidelines to diagnosis and therapeutics for HLI in Korea. Head lice infestation (HLI) caused by Pediculus humanus capitis is still common in Korean children in spite of an improvement since the 1980s in the country's economic status and the concepts of hygiene. HLI is troublesome and, if not treated, can lead to secondary bacterial infection as a result of scratching of the irritated scalp induced by an inflammatory reaction to injected saliva or anticoagulant. In addition, HLI causes social and psychological problems as well as physical symptoms. Confirmation of the HLI depends on identification of adult lice, nymphs, or viable nits. Nits are more commonly found at the nape of the neck and retroauricular areas. The differential diagnosis includes hair casts, dandruff, and debris by hair spray. Few chemical shampoos such as those containing lindane or pyrethrin are currently available in Korea. Although HLI is an important public health issue in Korea, little information is available on HLI. Medical doctors, school nurses, and teachers should be acquainted with HLI for the successful control of this disease, which is distressing a number of children covertly.
Adult ; Arthropods ; Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hair ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Korea ; Lindane ; Neck ; Nymph ; Pediculus ; Phthiraptera ; Public Health ; Saliva ; Scalp ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To determine the in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and acute dermal irritation in rabbits of hair cream prepared from the methanolic extract of Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. et Thoms. known in the Philippines as makabuhay.

METHODS: Several concentrations of methanolic extract, an aqueous and alcoholic extract, from makabuhay were tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on methods established by earlier studies. The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract, found to be the most efficacious, was made into a hair cream and was tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy against Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The same product was evaluated for acute dermal irritation in rabbits.

RESULTS: The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract formulated into a hair cream showed in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on stringent criteria of 100%, 96.4%, 85.7%, 78.6%, 67.9%, 64.3% and 64.3% after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, and 6 hours of observation, respectively, as compared with the 100% efficacy of Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The hair cream passed the dermal irritation test on abraded and intact skin of rabbits.

CONCLUSION: The hair cream from the 60% methanolic extract of makabuhay was shown to possess some in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and was found to be non-irritating. This herbal pediculicide may be an alternative treatment for lice infestation.

Animal ; Rabbits ; Lice Infestations ; Lindane ; Permethrin ; Tinospora ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Methanol ; Philippines ; Antiparasitic Agents ; Hair ; Pediculus

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