Downs A M, Harvey I, Kennedy C T
Department of Dermatology, University of Bristol, UK.
Epidemiol Infect. 1999 Jun;122(3):471-7. doi: 10.1017/s0950268899002277.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the prevalence of both scabies and head lice is increasing and also that both conditions are becoming refractory to pesticide treatment. Using information obtained from the Office of National Statistics, Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service, Department of Health, local surveys of school children from Bristol and drug sales of insecticides, we have confirmed that there has been a rise in the prevalence of both conditions. We have shown that scabies is significantly more prevalent in urbanized areas (P < 0.00001), north of the country (P < 0.000001), in children and women (P < 0.000001) and commoner in the winter compared to the summer. Scabies was also shown to have a cyclical rise in incidence roughly every 20 years. Head lice were shown to be significantly more prevalent in children and mothers (P < 0.000001) though both conditions were seen in all age groups. Head lice were also less common during the summer. Host behaviour patterns, asymptomatic carriage, drug resistance and tourism from countries or districts with a higher incidence may be important factors in the currently high prevalence of both scabies and head lice.
轶事证据表明，疥疮和头虱的患病率均在上升，而且这两种病症对杀虫剂治疗都变得越来越难治。利用从国家统计局、皇家全科医师学院每周回报服务处、卫生部、布里斯托尔对学童的当地调查以及杀虫剂药品销售中获得的信息，我们证实这两种病症的患病率均有所上升。我们发现，疥疮在城市化地区（P < 0.00001）、该国北部（P < 0.000001）、儿童和女性中（P < 0.000001）更为普遍，且与夏季相比，冬季更为常见。疥疮发病率还呈现出大约每20年的周期性上升。头虱在儿童和母亲中更为普遍（P < 0.000001），不过所有年龄组均有这两种病症。头虱在夏季也较少见。宿主行为模式、无症状携带、耐药性以及来自发病率较高国家或地区的旅游可能是目前疥疮和头虱高患病率的重要因素。
