Keratotic scabies (Norwegian scabies): case reports and literature review

Keratotic scabies (KS) (Norwegian scabies) is a rare variant of Sarcoptes scabeii infestation and is characterized by hyperkeratosis and crusting and by the presence of millions of mites in the horny layer of the skin. KS may be associated with underlying diseases, e.g. immune deficiency states and lymphoreticular disorders, or may occur in neglected or normal patients. We review the literature and present reports on 2 Black South African patients affected by KS. One was mentally defective; the other, submitted to extensive investigations, showed no abnormalities. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of KS in South African Blacks.