Efforts To Vanquish Skin Disease Among Infants

Researchers and residents in Australia are going full steam to counter skin diseases that are prevalent in the Top End. They aim to prevent the spread of tinea(fungal infections),scabies and other skin sores(bacterial infections) common among infants living in the ,far flung interior aboriginal communities and to mete out timely and effective treatment for the same.

Poverty and unhygienic living conditions facilitate the rapid spread of scabies and skin sores .Such conditions are rampant in most interior aboriginal communities.A study conducted in East Arnhem has stumbled upon some shocking statistics which reveal that the number of infants affected with scabies and aplethora of other skin diseases are sky high. In the study it was estimated that six out of every ten babies in the interior communities are afflicted with scabies before they reach their first birthday.And seven out of ten infants suffer from skin sores in the first year of their life.

Scabies

Scabies caused by mite, sarcoptes scabiei, that burrows in the skin. Usually transmitted by person-to-person transmission but may be picked up from bedding, clothes, etc.

Previous research done in the past have revealed that the chances of being afflicted with kidney diseases are greater in those who have suffered from Scabies and other skin sores..Strong evidence has also been unearthed which imply an association between skin diseases in childhood with rheumatic heart disease in later life which is also commonly encountered in certain aboriginal communities.

Determined to oust this plague from their midst the the people in East Arnhem have joined hands with scholars from the Menzies School of Health Research (MSHR), to develop and integrate educative awareness programmes for their local aboriginal community workers , who in turn can then play a major role in eradicating skin diseases from their communities.

Source: Medindia
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