Scabies;-an Epidemiological Study in a Resettlement Colony

Abstract

An epidemiological study -was conducted in a population of 9,341 residing in 2033 families in one of the resettlement colonies of Delhi. The prevalence of scabies was 0.56 percent by person and 1.37 percent by families. Scabies was most prevalent in children under 5 years of age and ip,the age group of 15-29 years. Prevalence was' higher in the males than in the, famale . The prevalence rate by person and by families was higher in Muslim infected families than in Hindu infected families. Majority of the population was ignorant about the aetiology, mode of spread and the'need for treatment of the disease.