The authors submit a review on the prevalence of occupational diseases caused by Sarcoptes scabiei in the Czech Republic in 1979-1998. Up to 1991 prevalence of scabies in individual years was sporadic. Since 1992 a gradual increase of notified cases was recorded (in 1998 - 198 cases), in particular in mental hospitals, medical departments, in old age pensioners homes and in homes for the chronically sick. Sporadically the disease was encountered also in other hospital departments and social welfare institutes. The highest number of occupational diseases was reported in 1998 in northern (84) and eastern Bohemia (51). The most frequently affected professional groups were nurses, auxiliary nurses and health workers. The authors draw attention to some pitfalls associated with the diagnosis, transmission and prevention of this disease. The causes of the increased incidence of scabies are according to the authors the adverse hygienic conditions in the above departments and the fact that the risk of possible infection of the nursing staff is underrated.

        Key words: scabies - occupational disease of health care workers - exposure - diagnosis - prevention.