title: Knowledge and management of scabies in general practitioners and dermatologists.
abstract: Scabies is an infectious skin disease with an increasing incidence during the past decade. A survey was conducted among general practitioners (GPs) and dermatologists in the region of Ghent, Belgium, to explore their knowledge on scabies. Information on the treatment advice given and the frequency of reporting scabies to the Health Inspection was also collected. The scores on the knowledge test were of an acceptable level in both GPs and dermatologists (median score 59% and 79% respectively). We found that profession (dermatologist versus GP), the number of years of experience and the estimated number of scabies patients per year had a significant effect on this score. Permethrin cream, currently regarded as the standard treatment, is prescribed as the only treatment for scabies by half of the GPs and dermatologists. Almost 50% of the GPs and dermatologists indicated they rarely or never report scabies to the Health Inspection. As a result the correct incidence of scabies in Belgium, as in many other countries, is not known.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lapeere
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brochez
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Weert
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pasteels
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Maeseneer
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Naeyaert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003880:Dermatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011336:Probability; D012532:Scabies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D026023:Permethrin