Objective assessment of treatment in severe angina.

Abstract

Parasites found on animal contacts of patients with unexplained prurigo, and the response to treatmient No of patients No of patients Ectoparasite No of No of cured after cured after animals patients treatment of dermatological animal treatment Cheyletiella yasgturi 2 3 3 Sarcoptes scabiei canis 2 3 3 Fleas 60 55 44 4 None 79 50 14 Total 143 i11 50 18 CommentApart from 10 patients with subsequently diagnosed human scabies or cimicosis, 57 out of 101 patients with unexplained prurigo were shown, after veterinary examination of their pets, to have been exposed to skin pathogens.Fifty of these patients (88 ,) were cured within one month by ridding their animals of mites and fleas.Even if some patients had consulted a vet, in many the prurigo would have persisted without veterinary intervention.When prurigo is not explained after medical investigation a search for ectoparasites on animal contacts is a cheap diagnostic aid, which may provide the clue to effective treatment.