First week of school visits mark official launch of the SToP Trial

The Telethon Kids Skin Health team has a busy six weeks ahead - visiting nine communities throughout the Kimberley region of WA as part of the first school surveillance activities for the SToP Trial.

Designed to “See, Treat and Prevent” skin infections, the SToP Trial aims to reduce the burden of skin sores and scabies in remote Aboriginal communities.

The study officially kicked off this week with researchers visiting the Luurnpa Catholic School in Balgo, identifying children with skin infections and referring them to the clinic for treatment.

Led by Associate Professor Asha Bowen, Head of Skin Health at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, the SToP Trial is being run in partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services including Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services and Western Australia Country Health Services – Kimberley.

According to Dr Bowen, skin infections are so common in these remote Aboriginal communities that they are often seen as ‘normal’ and affect close to 50 per cent of kids at any one time.

“As well as being painful and itchy, these skin infections can lead to serious, life-threatening illnesses such as rheumatic heart disease, kidney disease and sepsis,” said Dr Bowen.

“We want to support Aboriginal communities and children to have strong, healthy skin, so the SToP Trial aims to build on the strengths of the current skin health activities in the region by implementing sustainable training and treatment pathways.

“We will also be working with local clinic and environmental health services to enhance skin health practice and prevention.”

Researchers will return to each community three times per year for the next three years, allowing the team to learn more about the pathogens causing skin infections, as well as the most effective ways to treat and prevent them. Research findings will be presented to the communities involved after the study is completed in 2022.

“Our skin plays a vital role in keeping us healthy, so the information gained from the SToP Trial will contribute to the ultimate goal of reducing the number of children and families affected by preventable diseases caused by skin infections,” said Dr Bowen.

Click here for more information about the work of the Skin Health team at Telethon Kids Institute.