Premium
Skin infections and infestations in Aboriginal communities in northern Australia
Author(s) -
Currie Bart J,
Carapetis Jonathan R
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-0960.2000.00417.x
Subject(s) - scabies , overcrowding , pyoderma , medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , dermatology , sarcoptes scabiei , outbreak , skin infection , impetigo , biology , virology , engineering , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , electrical engineering , economics , genetics , economic growth
SUMMARY The most important skin infections in Aboriginal communities in central and northern Australia are scabies and streptococcal pyoderma. Scabies is endemic in many remote Aboriginal communities, with prevalences in children up to 50%. The cycles of scabies transmission underlie much of the pyoderma. Up to 70% of children have skin sores, with group A streptococcus (GAS) the major pathogen. Group A streptococcus is responsible for the continuing outbreaks of post‐streptococcal glomerulonephritis and acute rheumatic fever (ARF). The cycles of scabies transmission in dogs and humans do not appear to significantly overlap. Guidelines have been developed for community control of scabies and skin sores and successful community initiated coordinated programmes have occurred. The anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum is ubiquitous in many communities, again reflecting living conditions. Other skin infections related to the tropical environment include melioidosis, nocardiosis, Chromobacterium violaceum and chromoblastomycosis. Sustainable and long‐term improvements in scabies, skin sores and GAS‐related disease and tinea require fundamental changes that address social and economic inequities and, in particular, living conditions and overcrowding.