Long Term Control of Scabies Fifteen Years after an Intensive Treatment Programme

Abstract

Introduction: Scabies is a major public health problem in the Pacific and is associated with an increased risk of bacterial skin infections, glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever. Mass drug administration with ivermectin is a promising strategy for the control of scabies. Mass treatment with ivermectin followed by active case finding was conducted in five communities in the Solomon Islands between 1997 and 2000 and resulted in a significant reduction in the prevalence of both scabies and bacterial skin infections. Methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up study of the communities where the original scabies control programme had been undertaken. All residents underwent a standardised exa..