Introduction:
Scabies is a neglected tropical skin infection mostly affecting children living in overcrowded institutional environments. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of scabies among institutionalized children in Bangladesh.
Methods:
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among children attending a private hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh between July and December 2025. Children aged below 18 years residing in Islamic residential boarding schools and clinically diagnosed with scabies according to the 2020 International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) criteria were included in this study. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, hygiene-related practices, and clinical characteristics were collected by face-to-face interviews and thorough physical examination. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
Results:
A total of 106 children with scabies were included. The mean age of the participants was 11.8 years (SD 3.35 years), and 69% were male. Overcrowding was common, with 73% residing in rooms shared by more than five children, while 82% reported shared sleeping. Nearly, 51% shared bedding, clothes, or toiletry items, and 67% reported pruritus among close contacts. The most commonly affected sites were the interdigital spaces (73%), wrists (66%), and hands (60%). Mild scabies was observed in 48% of participants, whereas 33% and 19% had moderate and severe disease, respectively.
Conclusions:
Scabies among institutionalized children in Bangladesh was characterized by substantial exposure to overcrowded living environments and contact history of scabies with classical lesion distribution. Strengthened institutional infection prevention and contact-based management strategies are needed to reduce scabies transmission.
BT - IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences DA - 05/2026 DO - 10.9790/0853-2505040914 IS - 5 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 -Introduction:
Scabies is a neglected tropical skin infection mostly affecting children living in overcrowded institutional environments. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of scabies among institutionalized children in Bangladesh.
Methods:
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among children attending a private hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh between July and December 2025. Children aged below 18 years residing in Islamic residential boarding schools and clinically diagnosed with scabies according to the 2020 International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) criteria were included in this study. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, hygiene-related practices, and clinical characteristics were collected by face-to-face interviews and thorough physical examination. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
Results:
A total of 106 children with scabies were included. The mean age of the participants was 11.8 years (SD 3.35 years), and 69% were male. Overcrowding was common, with 73% residing in rooms shared by more than five children, while 82% reported shared sleeping. Nearly, 51% shared bedding, clothes, or toiletry items, and 67% reported pruritus among close contacts. The most commonly affected sites were the interdigital spaces (73%), wrists (66%), and hands (60%). Mild scabies was observed in 48% of participants, whereas 33% and 19% had moderate and severe disease, respectively.
Conclusions:
Scabies among institutionalized children in Bangladesh was characterized by substantial exposure to overcrowded living environments and contact history of scabies with classical lesion distribution. Strengthened institutional infection prevention and contact-based management strategies are needed to reduce scabies transmission.
PB - International Organization of Scientific Research PY - 2026 SP - 9 EP - 14 T2 - IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences TI - Clinical Profile Of Scabies Among Institutionalised Children In Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study UR - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammad-E-Khoda-2/publication/408010840_Clinical_Profile_Of_Scabies_Among_Institutionalised_Children_In_Bangladesh_A_Cross-Sectional_Descriptive_Study/links/6a436821ba614b63134c1c78/Clinical-Profile-Of-Scabies-Among-I VL - 25 SN - 2279-0853 ER -