Scabies outbreak in a group home monitored by DERMOCAMERA as telemedicine

Abstract

We treated a scabies outbreak in a group home setting for elderly individuals with dementia while monitoring the patients via DERMOCAMERA (Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) as telemedicine. At the first house visit, 6 female residents with a mean age of 94.3 ± 6.5 years old found to be scratching themselves. A diagnosis was made according to the 2020 International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Criteria, resulting in three confirmed scabies cases, two clinical cases and one suspected case. All patients were treated with ivermectin (200 µg/kg). The patients were further followed via DERMOCAMERA as telemedicine. DERMOCAMERA can quickly switch dermoscopic between macroscopic modes. Mite and scabies burrows were observed in dermoscopic mode. Video-based treatment in telemedicine is performed between a doctor and a patient with a care-worker (D to P with H). Ivermectin (mean number of doses: 2.7 ± 0.5) terminated the scabies outbreak. DERMOCAMERA as telemedicine can complement face-to-face treatment with scabies.