Risk Factors in the Transmission of Scabies among School Children in Zaria

Abstract

One thousand subjects randomly selected from local Qur'anic and public primary schools in Zaria, were studied to determine the prevalence rate of scabies as well as to identify risk factors associated with its transmission among these groups of children. The subjects were initially clinically screened and those who satisfied the clinical criteria for diagnosis had their skin lesions scraped for micro- scopic confirmation. The overall prevalence rate was 6.6 percent with a significantly higher prevalence rate (p<0.05) in the local Qur'anic schools than the public primary schools. Both sexes and all age groups were equally affected. Overcrowding as evidenced by the large number of the subjects who slept together, was closely associated with scabies transmission. Subjects with scabies took their bath much less often than the controls. The use of soap and sponge to bath was less common with those who had scabies, whose laundry practices were also significantly poorer than those of the controls. Exchange of clothes among the subjects was not significantly associated with scabies transmission. A significant proportion of the children with scabies were not living with their parents. It is suggested that a comprehensive school health programme with emphasis on maintenance of good personal hygiene and regular school inspection, should be instituted in these schools to minimize the morbidity resulting from the disease.