Scabies Infection in Thi-Qar Province

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to detect the frequency of mange (scabies) in the province of Thi Qar and the most commonly used treatment for it, in addition to measuring the IL-4 levels of selected patients and healthy people as representative marker for activation TH2 and subsequent hypersensitivity reaction. Methodology: A total of 624 patients with scabies attended the dermatology and venereal department at Al-Hussein teaching hospital in Thi-Qar Governorate, Most of the patients received topical treatment and a few resistant patients received oral treatment. Fourty of them were selected to measure the levels of IL-4 in serum in addition to forty healthy people as control samples by ELISA. The results: found that the maximum number of scabies patients was reported within age group 11-20 years 143 (22.9 %), the mange frequency was 55.9% in males and 44.1% in females. Topical 5-10% sulfur treatment was the used treatment in 61.7% of patient. Also, The finding of current study demonstrated increase in the serum level of IL-4 in mange patients serum (902.925 ±83.494pg/ml) comparing with healthy (366.950± 41.674). Conclusion: Scabies was high in individuals younger than 20 and children which can identified as high-risk category. Topical 5-10% mass treatment is the best suggested treatment for scabies patients in Thi-Qar, also an elevated levels of IL-4 is indication of activation of TH2 that induce hypersensitivity reaction by IgE production.