Crusted (Norwegian) Scabies in aMalnourished Geriatric Patient withDementia

Abstract

Norwegian scabies, which is a highly contagious variant of scabies, is a common parasiticinfestation in elderly persons living in care homes. Clinical symptoms may be different inthis patient group (slow onset and insidious progression, often without intense itching)with the addition of comorbid conditions, such as dementia and neurological diseases.Healthcare workers should be aware of this form of scabies, which is more common in elderlyand cognitively impaired patients. Early diagnosis can be made easily by a microscopicexamination of skin lesions. Isolation precautions are important measures to preventoutbreaks. The treatment includes keratolytic agents besides topical and oral scabicidesbecause of the high mite burden and hyperkeratotic lesions of the crusted scabies. In thisstudy, we reported on a case who had resided in a geriatric care home. The patient wasdiagnosed with crusted scabies and died in our intensive care unit with pneumonia.