Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of skin sores in pre-exposure periods and exposed periods, among five Aboriginal communities.

<p>Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of skin sores in pre-exposure periods and exposed periods, among five Aboriginal communities.</p

Self-controlled case series (SCCS) model with observation period, baseline period and risk periods.

<p>Self-controlled case series (SCCS) model with observation period, baseline period and risk periods.</p

Description of the datasets including follow-up duration and participant characteristics.

<p>Description of the datasets including follow-up duration and participant characteristics.</p

Scabies and risk of skin sores in remote Australian Aboriginal communities: A self-controlled case series study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Skin sores caused by <i>Group A streptococcus (GAS)</i> infection are a major public health problem in remote Aboriginal communities. Skin sores are often associated with scabies, which is evident in scabies intervention programs where a significant reduction of skin sores is seen after focusing solely on scabies control. Our study quantifies the strength of association between skin sores and scabies among Aboriginal children from the East Arnhem region in the Northern Territory.</p><p>Methods and results</p><p>Pre-existing datasets from three published studies, which were conducted as part of the East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project (EAHSP), were analysed. Aboriginal children were followed from birth up to 4.5 years of age. Self-controlled case series design was used to determine the risks, within individuals, of developing skin sores when infected with scabies versus when there was no scabies infection. Participants were 11.9 times more likely to develop skin sores when infected with scabies compared with times when no scabies infection was evident (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 11.9; 95% CI 10.3–13.7; p<0.001), and this was similar across the five Aboriginal communities. Children had lower risk of developing skin sores at age ≤1 year compared to at age >1 year (IRR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7–0.9).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The association between scabies and skin sores is highly significant and indicates a causal relationship. The public health importance of scabies in northern Australia is underappreciated and a concerted approach is required to recognise and eliminate scabies as an important precursor of skin sores.</p></div

Sensitivity analysis for the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of skin sores in pre-exposure periods and exposed periods.

<p>Sensitivity analysis for the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of skin sores in pre-exposure periods and exposed periods.</p