Simon Thornley1,2, Roger Marshall2, Paul Jarrett3,4, Gerhard Sundborn2, Edwin Reynolds1, Grant Schofield5. 1. Communicable Diseases and Disease Investigation, Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 3. Department of Medicine, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. 4. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 5. Human Potential Centre, Millennium Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
AIM: This study sought to determine whether scabies infection is associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD). METHODS: A cohort study was undertaken using health records of children aged 3-12 years attending an oral health service for the first time. Subjects were then linked to hospital diagnoses of scabies and ARF or CRHD. RESULTS: A total of 213 957 children free of rheumatic heart disease at baseline were available for analysis. During a mean follow-up time of 5.1 years, 440 children were diagnosed with ARF or CRHD in hospital records. Children diagnosed with scabies during follow-up were 23 times more likely to develop ARF or CRHD, compared with children who had no scabies diagnosis. After adjustment for confounders in a Cox model, the association reduced but remained strong (adjusted hazard ratio: 8.98; 95% confidence interval: 6.33-20.2). In an analysis restricted to children hospitalised at least once during follow-up, the adjusted hazard ratio for the same comparison was 3.43 (95% confidence interval: 1.85-6.37). CONCLUSIONS: A recent diagnosis of scabies from hospital records is strongly associated with a subsequent diagnosis of ARF. Further investigation of the role that scabies infestation may play in the aetiology of ARF is warranted.
AIM: This study sought to determine whether scabies infection is associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD). METHODS: A cohort study was undertaken using health records of children aged 3-12 years attending an oral health service for the first time. Subjects were then linked to hospital diagnoses of scabies and ARF or CRHD. RESULTS: A total of 213 957 children free of rheumatic heart disease at baseline were available for analysis. During a mean follow-up time of 5.1 years, 440 children were diagnosed with ARF or CRHD in hospital records. Children diagnosed with scabies during follow-up were 23 times more likely to develop ARF or CRHD, compared with children who had no scabies diagnosis. After adjustment for confounders in a Cox model, the association reduced but remained strong (adjusted hazard ratio: 8.98; 95% confidence interval: 6.33-20.2). In an analysis restricted to children hospitalised at least once during follow-up, the adjusted hazard ratio for the same comparison was 3.43 (95% confidence interval: 1.85-6.37). CONCLUSIONS: A recent diagnosis of scabies from hospital records is strongly associated with a subsequent diagnosis of ARF. Further investigation of the role that scabies infestation may play in the aetiology of ARF is warranted.
Authors: Maria João Lopes; Eunice Teixeira da Silva; Janete Ca; Adriana Gonçalves; Amabelia Rodrigues; Cristóvão Mandjuba; Jose Nakutum; Umberto D'Alessandro; Jane Achan; James Logan; Robin Bailey; Anna Last; Steve Walker; Michael Marks Journal: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg Date: 2020-01-06 Impact factor: 2.184
Authors: Kate M Miller; Jonathan R Carapetis; Chris A Van Beneden; Daniel Cadarette; Jessica N Daw; Hannah C Moore; David E Bloom; Jeffrey W Cannon Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2022-05-20
Authors: Michael Marks; Hilary Toloka; Ciara Baker; Christian Kositz; James Asugeni; Elliot Puiahi; Rowena Asugeni; Kristy Azzopardi; Jason Diau; John M Kaldor; Lucia Romani; Michelle Redman-MacLaren; David MacLaren; Anthony W Solomon; David C W Mabey; Andrew C Steer Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2019-03-05 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Mohammed Wasil A Jastaniah; Ziad Faisal K Zimmo; Mazen Waleed S Bakallah; Mohannad Saeed S Hantoush; Mohammed Abdal-Aziz Journal: Saudi Med J Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 1.484
Authors: Millicent H Osti; Oliver Sokana; Christina Gorae; Margot J Whitfeld; Andrew C Steer; Daniel Engelman Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2019-08-19
Authors: Michael G Baker; Jason Gurney; Jane Oliver; Nicole J Moreland; Deborah A Williamson; Nevil Pierse; Nigel Wilson; Tony R Merriman; Teuila Percival; Colleen Murray; Catherine Jackson; Richard Edwards; Lyndie Foster Page; Florina Chan Mow; Angela Chong; Barry Gribben; Diana Lennon Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-11-15 Impact factor: 3.390