A Descriptive Study of Scabies Cases in the Dermatology Department of Kandahar Mirwais Regional Hospital

Abstract

Background: Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by a microscopic mite called
Sarcoptes scabiei. The disease spreads rapidly through direct skin contact or indirectly via
personal items.
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to identify the cases of scabies in the
dermatology department of Kandahar Mirwais Regional Hospital. Secondary objective
included analyzing the distribution of patients by age, gender, and geographical location.
Methodology: This was a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in
Mirwais Regional Hospital. Data were collected from the patient registry books from the
month of Sunbula to the end of Hoot in the solar year 1402. From the total number of cases,
data from 308 patients were selected and analyzed using the SPSS software.
Results: During the study period, a total of 1,531 patients diagnosed with scabies visited
the dermatology department. Out of these, data from 308 patients were analyzed. Among
them, 199 were male and 109 were female. The mean age of the patients was 21.23 years,
the median age was 18 years, and the standard deviation was 16.63. Most of the patients
were residents of Kandahar city.
Conclusion: The study indicates that scabies was more prevalent among males. The
majority of the affected individuals were young and came from densely populated areas,
particularly Kandahar city. These findings highlight the urgent need for public awareness
and preventive measures, especially in crowded communities.
Key words: Scabies, Sarcoptes scabiei, Streptococcus, Skin