Low-cost equipment for diagnosis and management of endemic scabies outbreaks in underserved populations

Videodermatoscopy (VD) is a noninvasive tool useful for early diagnosis of melanoma that has also been shown to be safe and reliable in the diagnosis of scabies. Recently, low-cost videomicroscopes (VMs) (approximately US$30) are available for nonmedical use in entomology/botany/ microelectronics. Our findings show that the VMs allowed for a definitive scabies diagnosis, as did the VD. In addition to significantly improved cost-effectiveness in the management of scabies outbreaks, VMs can provide the ability to accomplish rapid noninvasive mass screening, easy posttherapeutic follow-up, and minimization of risks from missed diagnoses.