The 31st National Dermatology Congress, organized in Antalya by the Turkish Dermatology Association and Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Skin and Venereology, was held in a hotel in the tourism center of Belek, Serik. Within the scope of the congress, Turkish Dermatology Association President Prof. Dr. Ertan Yılmaz, board members Prof. Dr. Murat Durdu, Prof. Dr. Pelin Koçyiğit, Prof. Dr. Akın Aktaş, Dr. A press conference was held with the participation of Sadık Yılmaz and Secretary General Gonca Elçin.
‘WE CREATED A SCABBY BOOK’
Prof. Dr. Murat Durdu said, “There have been scabies epidemics in our country for the last 5-6 years. Especially after the earthquake disaster that occurred in February, scabies epidemics have increased gradually. The itching that people experience due to scabies has become the agenda of our association. We have carried out various studies on this subject. Various studies are carried out to raise public awareness. “We created brochures. Various meetings were held with presentations. We created the ‘Scabies Book’ with our working physicians. We created the book not only to dermatologists but also to inform all physicians, to ensure early diagnosis and to provide approaches to treatment,” he said.
‘IT INCREASED 30-40 TIMES IN THE LAST 3-4 YEARS’
Prof. stated that scabies has now been removed from the status of a notifiable disease, so it is not possible to give a number. Dr. Durdu said, “As physicians, we used to say, ‘There is still scabies in Turkey,’ when we would only see 1-2 cases. Now, if we consider the number of patients coming to the outpatient clinic as 40, at least 3-4 of them are scabies cases. Some clinics “Scabies accounts for 30-40 percent of incoming patients. In order to get accurate data, notification must be made mandatory and the data must be provided by the ministry. Some studies have been done on this subject. There is data that it has increased 30-40 times in the last 3-4 years,” he said. spoke.
‘CONTACT IS IMPORTANT IN SCABE’
Emphasizing that itching, which increases especially at night, is a very important symptom, Prof. Dr. Durdu continued: “If it affects the groin area in men, scabies should definitely come to mind in severe itching that affects the armpits, hands and between the fingers. If there is more than one person in the house, it is necessary to consider scabies until the contrary is proven. When scabies is present, it must be examined dermotoscopically. After the diagnosis is made, it is cured with some treatments. It is necessary to pay attention to this. In addition to the patients, family members also need to be treated. If this treatment is not given, it causes constant relapses. When a person with scabies is not washed, you increase the skin transmission of the disease. Daily bathing will reduce this frequency. Contact is important in scabies. Close proximity “Especially in our society, it is said that shaking hands does not transmit much. However, our new studies have shown that they are creatures that can be transmitted very quickly. When examined microscopically, they move very easily and can be transmitted from person to person. Therefore, people should avoid close contact.”
‘THE FIRST GIFT THEY GAVE TO THE CHILD IS A SLEEP’
Noting that scabies is very important in newborns, Prof. Dr. Durdu said, “Recently, a 2-month-old baby arrived. The first gift they give to the child is scabies. People immediately come to a newborn child and put gold on them. They embrace the child at this time. At that time, it definitely becomes contagious. The diagnosis process is delayed because children cannot express that they are itching. “Most of itching is mistaken for eczema. In case of delays in diagnosis, it can be transmitted to the child’s mother, caregiver and relatives. The child can infect everyone around him who comes to visit the baby. In the end, the child is not the culprit, but the first gift is scabies,” he said.
‘DRUGS SHOULD BE COVERED BY SSI’
Prof. said that scabies has been an epidemic in Turkey for the last 5-6 years and that they have started to see 3-5 patients a day. Dr. Durdu said, “It is stated that 30-40 percent of patients applying to dermatologists in some hospitals have scabies. Studies conducted in our country have reported that scabies cases increased approximately 7 times in 2018 compared to 2017, and increased 30 times when 2017 and 2019 are compared. Scabies cases in Turkey It increased by 30 percent compared to last year. Irregular migration, the pandemic, trying to examine patients in a limited time, and unfortunately people having to live in groups due to earthquakes in our country, and not being able to meet the water needs for cleaning can be counted as the reasons for the increase in scabies. It was previously used to treat scabies in our country. There were no pills. However, recently, this medicine has been available in our country and it is possible to procure it for a fee. We demand that these medicines be included within the scope of SSI without delay and that our citizens, especially in the earthquake zone, benefit from this medicine. In Covid-19 infections, isolating the patient is important to protect those around him from it. as necessary to protect; “Individuals who share the same living space with a patient diagnosed with scabies must also receive treatment,” he said. (DHA)
