Short summary

All patients diagnosed with scabies will be asked about permission to extract clinical information from their medical records. The purpose is to establish a research database from where new scientific knowledge, regarding the efficacy of treatment, can be generated. The database is to our knowledge the first of its kind, and will serve as an important means to increase quality of treatment and care. 

Rationale

In Denmark the prevalence of scabies is unknown. The infestations occurs at all ages but particular in children and older, immunosuppressed patients. In the Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre we see an increase in patients at the beginning of a boarding school year. The young patient group often presents with ordinary scabies, whereas older, immunosuppressed patients frequently develop a highly contagious crusted scabies, presenting with thousands of mites. The diagnosis can be difficult to establish, which may result in wrong diagnosis, leaving the primary disease untreated. Treated patients often require several visits to our department, as symptoms persist.  Whether this is due to treatment failure caused by inappropriate staff information, resistance of the prescribed drugs, or a third reason is a question that remains unknown.

Data stored in the Scabies Database will allow basic data accessible to future subprojects and thereby to improve and increase evidence on the effectiveness of our treatment offers. 

Description of the cohort

All patients diagnosed with scabies on The Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, OUH. 

Data and biological material

The stored data will include: Objective data: demographics, diagnosis, symptoms, prescription drugs, treatment efficacy, length of treatment course, number of treatments, household treatment.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital:

• Consultant Flemming Andersen, MD, phD.
• Professor Anette Bygum, MD, DMSc.