Abstract
Scabies infection is antediluvian and ubiquitous both in developing and developed countries, yet often neglected. Scabies has a predilection to infect vulnerable subsets of population in crowding conditions, typically applicable to residents in the nursing home. The mite incites a unique immunological response from human hosts. Scabies does not manifest as a singular skin condition and may present atypically in older adults, the majority of nursing home residents, where delay has deleterious consequences. Further, pruritus or itching, the hallmark of scabies infection, is a common complaint from a variety of causes among older adults. Hence, the diagnosis is often delayed or missed. There are several pharmacological treatment options; long-term care practitioners need to understand the characteristics of each agent before selection. Even more relevant is the importance of nonpharmacological aspects of management, crucial in the success of averting spread or outbreaks in long-term care settings.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Current Infectious Disease Reports |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Adverse effects of medications used in scabies
- Atypical presentations of scabies
- Management of scabies
- Pharmacological treatment of scabies
- Preventing spread of scabies
- Risk factors for scabies in long-term care
- Scabies
- Scabies in long-term care
- Scabies in the elderly
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases