title: The profile of scabies patients in Zagreb.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scabies is a mandatory notifiable disease according to Croatian law. Due to an increased reports of scabies within a couple of years in Zagreb, we decided to present epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with scabies in Zagreb.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective survey was carried out in county Public Health Institute "Dr. Andrija Stampar" in Zagreb and analysis was performed for the period of 2010-2013 upon individual notifications on scabies cases. The patients are presented by sociodemographic data, diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a 4 year period there were 246 scabies cases recorded in Zagreb. Cases have been registered in all quarters of the City. The highest incidence (50/100 000) was recorded in every child age group following by incidence of over 30/100 000 in elderly institutionalized in nursing homes. In almost two thirds of patients management of scabies has not been conducted in accordance to current guidelines. 10% of scabies cases were found in medical health personnel predominantly in those working in nursing homes and psychiatric wards. A small amount of cases 19 (8%) were infected outside Croatia; the majority of these cases 15 (78%) are registered within last two years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High percentage of scabies cases registered in nursing homes and psychiatric wards suggests that there is a need of raising awareness on scabies epidemiology and management by public health officers. Due to a higher incidence of scabies in children age, the obligation of medical practitioners is also to emphasize the importance of following treatment guidelines. In order to control scabies cases as well to prevent outbreaks within hospital wards or nursing homes there is an obligation of implementation of strict guidelines regarding treatment of scabies and a public health service referral.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Mirogojska cesta 16, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, mirjanalana.kosanoviclicina@stampar.hr.
authors.forename: Mirjana Lana
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kosanović Ličina
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quiaios
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tešić
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sá