Crusted (Norwegian) scabies in two old-age home residents

LY Chan, WYM Tang, HHF Ho, KK Lo
Social Hygiene Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong

Scabies is commonly seen in hospitals, where it frequently affects geriatric and convalescent patients. The clinical features of the classic form of scabies are well recognised. Crusted (Norwegian) scabies, which is a hyperinfestation variant of scabies, is very contagious and can present as other dermatoses, thus delaying the correct diagnosis and management. Two residents of different old-age homes presented with hyperkeratotic skin eruptions, which later proved to be crusted scabies. In both cases, the scabies was initially misdiagnosed as eczema. The delay in making a correct diagnosis led to an outbreak of scabies in the old-age home in which one of the patients was residing.

Hong Kong Med J 2000;6:428-30

Key words: Aged; Scabes/pathology; Sarcoptes scabiei; Skin/parasitology