The Association Between Internet Search Patterns and Scabies Incidence Across the United States

Abstract

Background Scabies, a contagious skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is a significant public health concern [1]. Traditional surveillance methods for scabies suffer from time lag and incomplete data, hindering early detection and response [5]. The widespread use of the internet and search engines, such as GoogleTM, offer new opportunities for alternative surveillance approaches.  Objective This study aimed to explore the association between scabies search volumes on Google TrendsTM (GTs) and scabies incidence at the state level across the United States. Methods GTs data for each U.S. state and scabies incidence from 2011 to 2019 were analyzed for summary statistics and association. Results The mean Spearman correlation coefficient for the period of 2011-2019 indicated a strong positive correlation between GTs RSVs for “scabies” and the incidence of scabies in the United States. Using an unpaired t-test, this correlation was found to be statistically significant.  Conclusions In resource-scarce environments where access to care is a common barrier, healthcare providers and departments can leverage this information to effectively target populations and employ resources for scabies prevention and treatment. Analyzing search engine term patterns can enhance our understanding of people's behavior when they suspect a scabies infestation.