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Burden of paediatric pyoderma and scabies in N orth W est Q ueensland
Author(s) -
Whitehall John,
Kuzulugil Deniz,
Sheldrick Kyle,
Wood Angela
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12095
Subject(s) - medicine , scabies , pyoderma , acute rheumatic fever , penicillin , pediatrics , cellulitis , referral , dermatology , antibiotics , family medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , disease , biology
Aim The study aims to assess the health burden of children admitted with ‘scabies’ to M t I sa H ospital, the referral centre for N orth W est Q ueensland, from 2006 to 2010. Methods This is a retrospective chart audit of admissions of children with ‘scabies’ including age, sex, date, residence, I ndigenous status, result of skin swabs and length of stay, and the number of admissions with acute rheumatic fever ( ARF ) and acute post‐streptococcal glomerulo‐nephritis ( APSGN ) in that period. Financial burden was estimated from daily bed costs and transportation. Results There were 113 admissions with mean age of 23/12: 11% were <2/12 and mean stay was 4.5 days. 19 were admitted twice, 5 thrice and 2 four times. 7 individuals accounted for 25% of admissions. ‘ S cabies’ accounted for 10.1% of medical admissions <5 years of age. Admissions increased from 10 in 2005 to 39 in 2010. The minimum cost per admission was $9584.07. Seventy‐one per cent of swabs grew Group A streptococcus, all sensitive to penicillin. Sixty‐three per cent of these were accompanied by S taphylococcus aureus , which was the sole organism in 18%. Sixty‐four per cent of S . aureus were methicillin resistant. T here were 29 admissions for ARF and 23 with APSGN . All children with ‘scabies’ and ARF and all but three with APSGN were I ndigenous. Conclusion Pyoderma and scabies are major health burdens in N orth W est Q ueensland, requiring organised community‐based prevention. The number of repeat admissions emphasises the futility of individual treatment.

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