The Diagnostic Accuracy of Dermoscopy for Scabies

Abstract

BackgroundScabies is a contagious skin infestation characterized clinically by nocturnal pruritus, visible burrows and contagiousness. Dermoscopy has been suggested as an alternative for diagnosing scabies. But, there have been few well-designed studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy.ObjectiveWe tried to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy for diagnosing scabies. We also tried to demonstrate specific circumstances in which dermoscopic identification of mites ("with dermoscopy") is more useful in diagnosing scabies, and to identify the specific clinical findings that could be used as a possible marker in diagnosing scabies.MethodsWe compared the scraping procedure "with dermoscopy" and "without it" in 49 patients, measuring the duration and outcome of each procedure. Also, we tried to find the specific clinical factors associated with our objects.ResultsThe skin scraping "with dermoscopy" was superior to "without it" with respect to the duration and accuracy of the procedure. A history of previous steroid treatment was associated with the superiority of dermoscopy. The correlation between the presence of visible burrows and the positive outcomes of "with dermoscopy" was statistically significant.ConclusionSkin scraping with dermoscopy is implicated as the diagnostic method of choice for scabies at the present time. Dermoscopy is especially useful in diagnosis of incognito scabies. In addition, the presence of visible burrows could be a reliable positive marker of scabies in the absence of dermoscopy or microscopy data.

Dermoscopy in general dermatology: practical tips for the clinician

“…10a). [59][60][61] Other rare skin infections Dermoscopy of tungiasis typically reveals a nodule with a central targetoid brownish ring, which in turn surrounds a central, often black, pore. 58 The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy has been reported to be at least equal to traditional ex vivo microscopic examination, while requiring less time, cost and experience.…”

Antibody Responses to Sarcoptes scabiei Apolipoprotein in a Porcine Model: Relevance to Immunodiagnosis of Recent Infection

“…Thus, specificity of clinical diagnosis may lead to problems with under or over diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of patients. Alternate diagnostic methods for scabies include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [15], and dermoscopy [16], [17], but these still rely on the ability to locate mites or mite DNA. These methods are also not easily applied to clinical or public health settings.…”

Skin infections in pregnancy

“…Crusted scabies seems to be rare in pregnancy. 72 Scabies is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, it is very important to differentiate scabies from other pruritic skin diseases during pregnancy, in particular specific dermatoses of pregnancy, so that scrapings for the mite, eggs, or fecal pellets and dermatoscopy that shows the jetliner-with-contrail sign 73 Permethrin is a pyrethroid with </= 2% systemic absorption rate. 74 No evidence of fetal harm or mutagenicity was observed in animal studies with oral permethrin at doses of 200-400 mg/kg/day.…”