Scabies in the United States: National and state-level epidemiologic trends (2010–2021)

Summary: Background:<b> </b>Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic skin disease caused by the microscopic mite <i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i>, resulting in intensely pruritic eruptions. This study examines national and state-level epidemiologic trends of scabies in the United States from 2010 to 2021. Method: Utilizing established methods from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 framework. This population-based cross-sectional study quantified age-standardized rates for incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), and disability-adjusted life years or DALY (ASDR) per 100,000 in the US. This analysis integrates national surveys, medical records, and claims databases using Bayesian meta-regression modeling (DisMod-MR 2.1). All estimates were reported with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Results:<b> </b>In 2021, an estimated 1.213 million new cases of scabies were reported in the U.S., representing a 2.9% decline from 1.249 million cases in 2010. ASIR decreased from 440.4 per 100,000 (95% UI: 407.2-474.7) in 2010 to 397.7 per 100,000 (95% UI: 361.4-438.9), reflecting an overall reduction in disease incidence. Females consistently exhibited higher ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR compared to males. Age-stratified analysis revealed the highest ASIR in adolescents (15–24 years: >600 per 100,000), while the youngest (<5 years) and oldest (≥85 years) age groups had the highest DALY burden. At the state level, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Maryland reported the highest incidence rates, whereas Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado had the lowest. Conclusion:<b> </b>While scabies burden have shown a gradual decline, it remains a significant public health concern, particularly among specific age groups and in high-prevalence states. Hossein Akbarialiabad¹, Stephen Tyring², Elham Younesian³, Ghazaleh Ebrahimi⁶, Christopher G. Bunick⁴, Ayman Grada⁵ 1. Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, United States. 2. Department of Dermatology, McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States. 3. Broward Healthcare System Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States. 4. Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States. 5. Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States. 6. Larkin Community Hospital Graduate Medical Education, South Miami, FL, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research