Zengarini Corrado, Mussi Martina, La Placa Michelangelo, Pileri Alessandro, Virdi Anna Lucia, Chessa Marco, Bardazzi Federico, Gurioli Carlotta, Starace Michela, Gaspari Valeria, Misciali Cosimo, Cassalia Fortunato, Piraccini Bianca Maria, Neri Iria
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Sex Transm Infect. 2025 May 19;101(4):256-258. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2024-056436.
Scabies infestation, caused by the 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.
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 tests assessed nationality distribution differences, and linear regression analysed annual trends. Seasonal variation was evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test.
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.
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.
由疥螨引起的疥疮感染最近在西方国家成为一个公共卫生问题，全球发病率呈上升趋势。在意大利博洛尼亚，当地卫生当局报告疥疮诊断病例有所增加，不过详细数据有限。本研究旨在分析圣奥索拉医院皮肤科急诊科诊断的疥疮病例的时间趋势，重点关注发病率的显著变化以及随时间的季节性变化。
采用回顾性观察研究，使用2013年10月至2024年9月的数据，这些数据通过国际疾病分类第九版（ICD - 9）编码从医院记录中提取。变量包括每月病例数、出院日期、患者年龄和国籍。急诊科所有瘙痒病例均在皮肤科进行评估，通过皮肤镜或显微镜检查确诊。仅纳入首次就诊病例，排除随访就诊或治疗后复查以避免重复。每月病例汇总以确定年度和季节性趋势。χ检验评估国籍分布差异，线性回归分析年度趋势。季节性变化采用Kruskal - Wallis检验进行评估。
共诊断出1192例病例。国籍分布保持稳定，意大利出生者与其他国籍之间无显著差异。近年来观察到发病率呈显著上升趋势，季节性变化显示2月、3月和4月病例数较高，7月和8月最低。
近年来疥疮病例增加以及明显的季节性高峰表明，环境和社会因素可能在博洛尼亚的传播中起作用。在没有人口结构变化和已知耐药性的情况下，旅游业增长和住宿条件欠佳等因素可能在传播中发挥作用。建议加强公共卫生监测、提高认识并采取针对性干预措施以有效应对这一趋势。
