Epidemiology and Contributing Factors of Scabies Among Children and Adolescents in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Scabies affects approximately 204 million people worldwide and is recognized by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease.
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Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to scabies because they are more likely to be infested and to experience severe complications from secondary bacterial infections.
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The systematic review included 35 studies with 45,425 participants and examined scabies prevalence and associated risk factors among children and adolescents in Africa.
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Scabies is transmitted directly through close body contact or indirectly through shared clothing, towels, or bedding; the incubation period is 3 to 6 weeks for primary infestation and 1 to 3 days for reinfestation.
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Intense pruritus from scabies can disrupt sleep and concentration, contribute to social stigma and isolation, and lead to secondary bacterial skin infections.

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