Resurgence of Scabies in France

In March 2011, the InVS published a report¹ on scabies indicating an increase in the number of reported cases and/or outbreaks of scabies occurring in group settings. However, this increase may be attributed to a reporting bias, as 32% of the local public health agencies (DDASS) that participated in the survey were confronted with particularly complex situations, especially in communal settings (schools, nursing homes, migrant shelters/camps, etc.). However, data on medication use also support an increase in the incidence of scabies: sales of ivermectin (a drug indicated for the treatment of scabies since the 1990s) rose by 24% annually between 2005 and 2009. Since ivermectin is also prescribed for other conditions, the number of scabies cases may still be overestimated by this approach. At the same time, there has been a nationwide increase in the use of topical scabicides, a trend also observed in the northern region. Burgundy and Franche-Comté are no exception to this national trend, particularly regarding ivermectin sales² and reported cases. Data from the SOS Médecins associations in Besançon, Dijon, and Sens indicate an increase between 2008 and 2010 from 9 to 38 annual cases (and 49 cases recorded in the first ten months of 2011). For 2011, the male-to-female ratio of patients is 0.71 and the average age is 34 years (min-max age: 2–89 years). These data suggest an increase in the number of scabies cases that is not limited to institutional settings and affects all age groups.