Evaluation of 1,094 children diagnosed with scabies in Turkey: a 5-year retrospective observational study
PARASITE, vol.33, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 33
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1051/parasite/2026041
- Journal Name: PARASITE
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Zoological Record, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Istanbul University Affiliated: No
Abstract
Scabies is a common health concern, particularly among infants and children from socioeconomically disadvantaged households. This single-center retrospective observational cohort study describes scabies phenotypes, associated factors, treatment patterns, complications, and 12-month scabies-related re-attendance among diagnosed children between March 2018 and March 2023. Data from 1,094 children living in Turkey were extracted from medical records. Patients were classified as having classic, crusted, or nodular scabies for descriptive analyses; crusted and nodular scabies were combined as variant scabies only for selected regression models. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with variant scabies and hospitalization. Most cases occurred in fall and winter (67.6%). Crusted and nodular scabies were identified in 93 (8.5%) and 18 (1.6%) patients, respectively. Underlying abnormalities were reviewed separately for crusted and nodular scabies. Among hospitalized children, 61.5% had variant scabies, and clinically suspected secondary bacterial infection was documented in 77 of 78 hospitalized patients. Cultures were obtained from all hospitalized children; among culture-positive cases, Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism. Among children who re-attended within one year, permethrin was the most frequently documented treatment (92.3% of documented treatments). Underlying disease and younger age were independently associated with variant scabies, whereas underlying disease, variant scabies, and younger age were independently associated with hospitalization. Re-attendance was more frequent in variant scabies (p < 0.001). Crusted scabies warrants careful evaluation for underlying abnormalities and secondary infection, while nodular scabies should be interpreted as a distinct hypersensitivity-related phenotype. These findings support proactive household-level management and follow-up.