Scabies in a Semiurban Area of India: An Epidemiologic Study

An epidemiologic survey was conducted in a population of 1,727 persons living in 253 households in a semiurban area of Goa, India. The prevalence of scabies was 9.7% by persons, 22.5% by households and 22.8% by families. Prevalence of scabies was highly associated with age. The highest prevalence (23.7%) was in school-age children. Prevalence was higher for females than males age 25 or older, but there was no significant difference in prevalence by sex for all ages. Prevalence rate by persons was approximately the same in Hindus and Christians but prevalence rate between families was higher for Hindus, although prevalence within families was higher for Crhistians. First to contact scabies in the family was generally a school child.