words)This cross-sectional study of skin infections in The Gambia revealed prevalence of scabies, pyoderma and fungal infections in children <5 years of 15.9%, 17.4% and 9.7% respectively, with increased bacterial skin infections in the rainy season.2 Abstract (max 250 words) Background: Scabies is a WHO neglected tropical disease common in children in low-and middle-income countries. Excoriation of scabies lesions can lead to secondary pyoderma infection, most commonly by Staphyloccocus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS), with the latter linked to acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and potentially rheumatic heart disease (RHD). There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of these skin infections and their bacterial aetiology from Africa.
Materials/methods:A cross-sectional study, conducted over a four-month period that included the dry and rainy season, was conducted to determine the prevalence of common skin infections in Sukuta, a peri-urban settlement in western Gambia, in children <5 years. Swabs from pyoderma lesions were cultured for S. aureus and
GAS.Results: Of 1441 children examined, 15.9% had scabies (95% CI 12.2-20.4), 17.4% had pyoderma (95% CI 10.4-27.7) and 9.7% had fungal infections (95% CI 6.6-14.0).Scabies were significantly associated with pyoderma (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.61-4.67).Of 250 pyoderma swabs, 80.8% were culture-positive for S. aureus, and 50.8% for GAS. Participants examined after the first rains were significantly more likely to have pyoderma than those examined before (aRR 2.42, 95% CI 1.38-4.23), whereas no difference in scabies prevalence was seen (aRR 1.08, 95% CI 0.70-1.67). Swab positivity was not affected by the season.
Conclusions:High prevalence of scabies and pyoderma were observed. Pyoderma increased significantly during rainy season. Given the high prevalence of GAS