Clinical Case Series in Hospital Central de La Defensa Gómez Ulla (Madrid, Spain) (2024)

Undergraduate: Jordana Rockley

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Angelica Sarmiento Marchese
Department: Robertson Scholarship (Immunology and Clinical Biochemistry at Hospital Central de La Defensa Gómez Ulla)

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Scabies, a neglected tropical disease, poses significant challenges to public health, especially in vulnerable populations. This is a case study of a 94-year-old male retiring home resident patient with multiple comorbidities, including Alzheimer's, diabetes, and recent Covid-19 infection, who presented with uncontrollable itching and skin lesions. This case caused a public health crisis in the hospital and in the retirement home nearest the hospital. Environmental risk factors, such as poor sanitation and dust exposure, were identified as significant contributors to scabies transmission in the hospital and retirement home setting. This case underscores the complexity of managing scabies in underdeveloped communities, where access to healthcare and hygiene practices are limited. Moving forward, a comprehensive approach that addresses both individual and environmental factors is essential for preventing and controlling scabies infections infestation in vulnerable populations.

Link to Abstract