How do you get Scabies?

Scabies is a skin disease or infection by mites (Sarcoptes scabiei). Scabies mites are microscopic parasitic organisms that dig deep into the skin and cause inflammation, itching and rash. Advanced symptoms of scabies are: crusty appearance of the skin, pustules, blisters and nodules. Most symptoms caused by the mites are actually allergic reactions to dust mites, eggs and manure, which are toxic for the human body. Rash is the first symptoms when suffering from scabies, just days after infection with the parasitic mites. Scabies rash is very persistent, and it may take up to several weeks or months for effective treatment.

Scabies is highly contagious and the parasitic mites which are the origin of the disease can be acquired either directly by or indirectly with people, or through contact with their bedding, clothing or other shared material. Scabies are common in residential and nursing homes as a result of over-population and lack of hygiene. To fight off infection, it is very important to have a good personal hygiene and prevent the sharing of personal items with others.

Scabies usually infest the broken or weakened areas of skin, like armpits, feet, the areas between the toes, and buttocks and the Palmellina region. This disease is usually diagnosed with the first clinical symptoms of scratching and itching followed by a red bumpy rash. Although the scabies mites are microscopic, their presence can be easily detected on the surface of the skin. Their little tunnels can be observed with the naked eye. To confirm the clinical diagnosis, doctors often place samples of infections of the skin under the microscope for analysis.

The medical treatment of scabies is done on several levels, medications are available for killing mites, or parasites, while other drugs alleviate the symptoms produced by the rash on the skin. The treatment of scabies is usually creams or lotions for external use only. Creams containing permethrin are very effective in treating the infestation of mites and are often used in the treatment of scabies. Most infections are treated with permethrin and the rash and itch can be mitigated by frequent hot showers. If itching and rash is severe, doctors may also require treatment with hydrocortisone, antihistamines and analgesics.

Although the treatment of scabies can quickly eliminate the infestation of mites, the symptoms of scabies may continue for long periods. This is because even after their death, mites may remain under the skin, causing allergies and skin rashes. In infants and small children, after the outbreak can be very severe. Upon completion of the treatment of scabies, many young children to develop Acropustulosis, a disease of the skin, which required treatment that can take more than a few months!

Because of the contagious and persistence nature of symptoms, scabies as a very serious disease of the skin.

Preventing Spread

To prevent the reoccurrence of scabies and to prevent the mites from spreading to others, take these steps:

• Clean all of your clothes and household linens. Using hot water with detergent to wash all clothing, towels and bedding you used at least two days before treatment should do the trick. Dry everything cleaned with high heat. Take the items you can’t wash at home to the dry cleaners.
• Starve the mites. If you can’t get to a dry cleaners, try placing items you can’t wash in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it sealed for a couple of weeks. Mites will die if they don’t eat for a week

Home Treatment

All persons in the household who have had contact with the infected person in the past month must be treated. This would normally include everyone in the home, even if they have no symptoms. (The symptoms may take 4-6 weeks to grow after an being introduced tho the house.)

It is important that the bed linen and clothes of everyone in the household be cleaned thoroughly as scabies may linger for a period of days after being treated.
Non-prescription pharmaceuticals for mites, or scabies

There are few medicines that can cure a scabies infection. Over-the-counter lice medicines are not strong enough to kill mites, or scabies. If you believe you have scabies, do not use products without a prescription from your doctor.

Natural Treatments - Do they work?

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Treatment

If you are looking for an effective treatment, over-the-counter cortisone creams are discouraged. Topical prescription medications are used to treat scabies infestations, including lotions that contain lindane or crotamiton, which are applied from the neck down. Lindane is a pesticide that is associated with neurological damage, poisoning, cancer, and environmental contamination. Its use in adults is controversial and it is no longer used in children.

As a scabies treatment, coating the body with a mixture of petroleum jelly and 5% sulfur for 3 consecutive nights has also proven beneficial. Itching caused by the absorption of mites and their feces into the body can last for weeks, leading people to believe they are still infected.

The lesions caused by scabies should be kept clean to prevent infection. Physicians may advise wearing cotton gloves during and after treatment to prevent breaking the skin by scratching, which can cause secondary infection.

The parasites cannot survive away from the body for more than a few days, so contaminated clothing and bedding can be sanitized by thorough washing in hot water and storing for 1 or 2 weeks.

Symptoms of an Infection

The scabies itch is often severe and is usually worse at night and while bathing. Visible symptoms include rash and bumps between the fingers; inside the wrists, elbows, or knees; in the skin creases of the buttocks and groin; around the navel and nipples (especially in women); on the feet; and on external genitalia.

The bumps contain nests for hatching and growing mites. They can become inflamed, crusty, and hard, and can persist for weeks after treatment. The burrows may appear as short, zigzag, grayish lines under the skin. Scabies is a local infection with no known systemic complications. The itching and rash will intensify and spread without treatment. Scratching often produces secondary bacterial infection, pus-filled lesions, and cracks in the skin.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by physical examination. Scabies lesions can be scraped to obtain a sample of tissue, which is mixed with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and examined under a microscope for eggs, feces, and mites. This test confirms the diagnosis and rules out other skin diseases that cause itching.

Scabies Pictures

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This page contains pictures of scabies. After looking at the scabies pictures take a look at more of the information on scabies, its symptoms, how it spreads, and the best treatment options.

Pictures of scabies.