title: Norwegian scabies in Peru: the impact of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I infection.
abstract: Isolates cases and groups of patients co-infected with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and Norwegian scabies have been previously reported. Peru is considered to be endemic for HTLV-I. Between June 1999 and December 2000, 23 patients with Norwegian scabies were enrolled in this study after written informed consent was obtained. Antibodies against HTLV-I were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmatory Western blot. Patients ranged in age from 3 months to 84 years; 15 (65.2%) were female. Infection with HTLV-I was found in 16 (69.6%) patients. Comorbid features included corticosteroid therapy (8.6%), malnutrition (8.6%), and Down's syndrome (4.3%). Among those who consented to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (n = 13, 56.5%), no one had a positive result. The three patients that reported one or more prior episodes of Norwegian scabies were infected with HTLV-I and two of these HTLV-I-positive patients died. Infection with HTLV-I is an important co-factor related to Norwegian scabies in Peru. In our setting, the evaluation for HTLV-I in all Norwegian scabies cases is highly recommended, especially when no other risk factors are apparent.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Magaly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blas
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Wenceslao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Wenceslao J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Rosalía
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballona
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catacora
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cairampoma
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotuzzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D012532:Scabies / Q000453:epidemiology*