Quality of Life in Patients With Scabies

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Parasitology

Background:

• Scabies is a widespread parasitic skin infection causing substantial illness globally, especially in resource-limited areas like Pakistan.
• The psychosocial burden and quality of life (QoL) impact of scabies are frequently overlooked in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of scabies on the QoL of patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.
• To highlight the need for integrating QoL assessments into routine dermatological care for scabies patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 164 adult patients (15-50 years) clinically diagnosed with scabies.
• Quality of life was evaluated using the Modified Dermatology Life Quality Index (mDLQI).
• Patient data were collected from August 2023 to February 2024 at a hospital in Peshawar.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of patients (62.8%) reported moderate to severe impairment in their QoL due to scabies.
• Only 15.9% of patients experienced no QoL impact, while 21.3% reported a mild effect.
• Moderate (32.9%) and severe (29.9%) effects on QoL were reported by a substantial number of participants.

Conclusions:

• Scabies profoundly affects patients' QoL, encompassing both physical and psychosocial dimensions.
• Integrating routine QoL assessments into the management of scabies is recommended for holistic patient care.
• Addressing the QoL impact is essential for effective scabies treatment and patient well-being in clinical settings.