Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on head lice and scabies infestation dynamics: a population based study in France.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2021;
47:867-872. [PMID:
34888912 DOI:
10.1111/ced.15054]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Lockdowns and physical distancing have dramatically limited the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and other common communicable infections. However, little is known about their impact on head lice and scabies.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the impact of the 2020 French National lockdowns (March 17th -May 11th , and Oct 30th -Dec 15th ) and physical distancing recommendations (from February 2020) on the head lice and scabies infestation dynamics.
METHODS
The weekly sales of topical head lice treatments, topical scabies treatments, and oral ivermectin were extracted from the IQVIA database (60% of all French retail pharmacies) and analysed over a 5-year period (March 2016 - December 2020). A periodic regression model was fit to drug sales before the COVID-19 period (i.e. 2016-2019) and extrapolated afterwards in order to compare the sales observed in 2020 to the expected sales.
RESULTS
A decrease of the sales of tracer topical treatments for head lice and scabies was observed from March 2020, synchronously with the first French national lockdown. For the period March 2020-December 2020, the mean reduction in observed versus expected sales were 44% and 14% for head lice and scabies topical treatments, respectively. On the other hand, the observed decrease of oral ivermectin sales after March 2020 was much lower (4%), probably because of studies reporting the potential positive effects of this drug on the Covid-19 infection.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19 lockdown and physical distancing reduce circulation of head lice and scabies in France. Further studies are needed to assess long term impact of these social behaviour changes.
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