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.
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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