Corrado Zengarini, Martina Mussi, Michelangelo La Placa, Alessandro Pileri, Anna Lucia Virdi, Marco Chessa, Federico Bardazzi, Carlotta Gurioli, Michela Starace, Valeria Gaspari, Cosimo Misciali, Fortunato Cassalia, Bianca Maria Piraccini, Iria Neri
{"title":"Scabies increasing incidence in Bologna from 2013 to 2024: a retrospective analysis.","authors":"Corrado Zengarini, Martina Mussi, Michelangelo La Placa, Alessandro Pileri, Anna Lucia Virdi, Marco Chessa, Federico Bardazzi, Carlotta Gurioli, Michela Starace, Valeria Gaspari, Cosimo Misciali, Fortunato Cassalia, Bianca Maria Piraccini, Iria Neri","doi":"10.1136/sextrans-2024-056436","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Scabies infestation, caused by the <i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i> mite, has recently emerged as a public health concern in Western nations, with increased incidence worldwide. In Bologna, Italy, local health authorities report a rise in scabies diagnoses, although detailed data are limited. This study aimed to analyse the temporal trends of scabies cases diagnosed at S. Orsola Hospital's Dermatological Emergency Department, focusing on significant changes in incidence and seasonal variation over time.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from October 2013 to September 2024, extracted from hospital records using ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) codes. Variables included monthly case counts, discharge date, patient age and nationality. All pruritic cases from the emergency department were evaluated in the dermatology unit, with diagnosis confirmed via dermoscopic or microscopic examination. Only first visits were included, excluding follow-up visits or post-therapy controls to avoid duplication. Monthly cases were aggregated to identify annual and seasonal trends. χ<sup>2</sup> tests assessed nationality distribution differences, and linear regression analysed annual trends. Seasonal variation was evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1192 cases were diagnosed. The nationality distribution remained stable, with no significant differences between Italian-born and other nationalities. A significant upward trend in incidence was observed in recent years, with seasonal variation showing higher case counts in February, March and April, and the lowest in July and August.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The increase in scabies cases in recent years and distinct seasonal peaks suggests that environmental and social factors may contribute to transmission in Bologna. Without demographic changes and known drug resistance, factors such as the rise in tourism and suboptimal accommodation conditions may play a role in transmission. Enhanced public health monitoring, awareness and targeted interventions are recommended to manage this trend effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":21624,"journal":{"name":"Sexually Transmitted Infections","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Sexually Transmitted Infections","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2024-056436","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
Scabies increasing incidence in Bologna from 2013 to 2024: a retrospective analysis.
Objectives: Scabies infestation, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, has recently emerged as a public health concern in Western nations, with increased incidence worldwide. In Bologna, Italy, local health authorities report a rise in scabies diagnoses, although detailed data are limited. This study aimed to analyse the temporal trends of scabies cases diagnosed at S. Orsola Hospital's Dermatological Emergency Department, focusing on significant changes in incidence and seasonal variation over time.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from October 2013 to September 2024, extracted from hospital records using ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) codes. Variables included monthly case counts, discharge date, patient age and nationality. All pruritic cases from the emergency department were evaluated in the dermatology unit, with diagnosis confirmed via dermoscopic or microscopic examination. Only first visits were included, excluding follow-up visits or post-therapy controls to avoid duplication. Monthly cases were aggregated to identify annual and seasonal trends. χ2 tests assessed nationality distribution differences, and linear regression analysed annual trends. Seasonal variation was evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: A total of 1192 cases were diagnosed. The nationality distribution remained stable, with no significant differences between Italian-born and other nationalities. A significant upward trend in incidence was observed in recent years, with seasonal variation showing higher case counts in February, March and April, and the lowest in July and August.
Conclusions: The increase in scabies cases in recent years and distinct seasonal peaks suggests that environmental and social factors may contribute to transmission in Bologna. Without demographic changes and known drug resistance, factors such as the rise in tourism and suboptimal accommodation conditions may play a role in transmission. Enhanced public health monitoring, awareness and targeted interventions are recommended to manage this trend effectively.
期刊介绍：
Sexually Transmitted Infections is the world’s longest running international journal on sexual health. It aims to keep practitioners, trainees and researchers up to date in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all STIs and HIV. The journal publishes original research, descriptive epidemiology, evidence-based reviews and comment on the clinical, public health, sociological and laboratory aspects of sexual health from around the world. We also publish educational articles, letters and other material of interest to readers, along with podcasts and other online material. STI provides a high quality editorial service from submission to publication.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
