title: Features of human scabies in resource-limited settings: the Cameroon case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The persistent high prevalence of human scabies, especially in low- and middle-income countries prompted us to research the sociodemographic profile of patients suffering from it, and its spreading factors in Cameroon, a resource-poor setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey from October 2011 to September 2012 in three hospitals located in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and enrolled patients diagnosed with human scabies during dermatologists' consultations who volunteered to take part in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 255 patients of whom 158 (62 %) were male. Age ranged from 0 to 80 years old with a median of 18 (Inter quartile range: 3-29) years. One to eight persons of our patients' entourage exhibited pruritus (mean = 2.1 ± 1.8). The number of persons per bed/room varied from 1 to 5 (mean = 2.1 ± 0.8). The first dermatologist's consultation occurred 4 to 720 days after the onset of symptoms (mean = 77.1 ± 63.7). The post-scabies pruritus (10.2 % of cases) was unrelated to the complications observed before correct treatment (all p values > 0.05), mainly impetiginization (7.1 %) and eczematization (5.9 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human scabies remains preponderant in our milieu. Populations should be educated on preventive measures in order to avoid this disease, and clinicians' knowledges must be strengthened for its proper diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Biyem-Assi District Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.|Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.|Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kouotoea@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Armand
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kouotou
authors.affiliation: Sickle Cell Disease Unit, Mother and Child Centre, Chantal Biya Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon. jobertrichie_nansseu@yahoo.fr.|Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 1364, Yaoundé, Cameroon. jobertrichie_nansseu@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Jobert Richie N
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nansseu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada. isidoros2002@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Isidore
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sieleunou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. defodefo24@yahoo.com.|Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. defodefo24@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Defo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Defo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. annezkbissek@yahoo.fr.|Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. annezkbissek@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bissek
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. ecndam@yahoo.fr.|Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. ecndam@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Elie Claude Ndjitoyap
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ndam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence; D012532:Scabies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult