A regional initiative to reduce skin infections amongst Aboriginal children living in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia

A regional initiative to reduce skin infections amongst Aboriginal children living in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia Journal Article

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

• Author(s): Andrews, Ross M., Kearns, Therese, Connors, Christine, Parker, Colin, Carville, Kylie, Currie, Bart J., Carapetis, Jonathan R.
• Published: 2009
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Volume: 3

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Abstract: Skin infections are endemic in many in remote Australian Aboriginal communities and have been linked to very high rates of chronic heart and kidney disease in this population. We report the results of a regional collaboration that aimed to reduce skin infections amongst children aged less than 15 years in five remote communities. The program included annual mass scabies treatment days offered to all residents and routine screening/follow-up of children. Trained community workers helped conduct over 6000 skin assessments on 2329 children over a three year period. Of every 100 children seen at the commencement of the study, 47 were found to have skin sores and many had multiple sores. We demonstrate a reduction both in the number of children with skin sores and in the severity of those sores. On average, of every 100 children seen per month, there were 14 fewer children with skin sores and seven fewer children with multiple sores. Overall improvement in treatment uptake was a critical factor. We found no discernible impact against scabies. While the burden of skin infections remains unacceptably high, we believe the results presented here are a good news story for local action to address a serious public health problem.

• Urls: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000554