The epidemiology of scabies in Turkey

The epidemiology of scabies for the last twelve years has been studied in Turkey. Information was obtained from three regions (Istanbul, Ankara and Erzurum) having different climates. There has been an increase in scabies in the years following 1969 in Ankara and Erzurum and from 1967 on in Istanbul. It reached its maximum in 1978 in Erzurum, while this peak had been observed in early 1970s in other regions. Scabies incidence has significantly increased and decreased in winters and summers respectively, has been found to affect particularly the age group 15-44, and was observed more frequently in men than in women. Scabies seems to be moving to the eastern parts of Turkey.