An unusual case of crusted scabies in an immunocompetent adult: A case report

Key Clinical Message Although rare, crusted scabies can affect immunocompetent individuals with no identifiable risk factors. A high index of suspicion, regardless of an individual's immunological status or absence of traditional risk factors, should be maintained by health professionals to fac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical case reports 2024-08, Vol.12 (8), p.e9325-n/a
Main Authors: Agyei, Martin, Opare‐Addo, Priscilla Abrafi, Ofori, Afua, Kyem, Gloria, Gyabaah, Solomon, Asare‐Bediako, Serwaa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacterial infections
Blood
Case Report
Case reports
Chronic Diseases
Dermatitis
Dermatology
Diabetes
Drug dosages
Eczema
Females
General Medicine
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Hyperparasitaemia
immunocompetent
LMICs
Malnutrition
Neurology
Norwegian scabies
Parasitic diseases
Psoriasis
Risk factors
Skin
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Summary:Key Clinical Message Although rare, crusted scabies can affect immunocompetent individuals with no identifiable risk factors. A high index of suspicion, regardless of an individual's immunological status or absence of traditional risk factors, should be maintained by health professionals to facilitate prompt referral to a dermatologist. Crusted scabies is an uncommon variant of human scabies characterized by extensive crusted and scaly hyperkeratotic papules, and plaques resulting from profound proliferation of mites in the skin. It is highly contagious and typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Reports of cases in healthy adults are rare. It is often resistant to routine treatment. We report a case of a 30‐year‐old immunocompetent male who presented to us with an extensive pruritic papular rash that started in the inter‐digital web spaces of his hands. Within 3 months from onset, the lesions progressed, and became hyperkeratotic, scaly, non‐pruritic, spreading to involve his entire body (sparing his face only). Crusty scabies was eventually diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist after months of misdiagnosis at peripheral facilities. Although rare, crusted scabies can affect immunocompetent individuals. A high index of suspicion is required, regardless of immunological status. Among immunocompetent individuals, a thorough search for traditional risk factors is imperative.
ISSN:2050-0904
2050-0904
DOI:10.1002/ccr3.9325