Scabies

Content

Causes

Symptoms

Exams and Tests

Treatment

Outlook (Prognosis)

Possible Complications

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Scabies is an easily-spread skin disease caused by a very small mite.

Causes

Scabies is found among people of all groups and ages around the world.

·       Scabies spread by skin-to-skin contact with another person who has scabies.

·       Scabies is easily spread among people who are in close contact. Whole families are often affected.

Outbreaks of scabies are more common in nursing homes, nursing facilities, college dorms, and child care centers.

The mites that cause scabies burrow into the skin and lay their eggs. This forms a burrow that looks like a pencil mark. Eggs hatch in 21 days. The itchy rash is an allergic response to the mite.

Pets and animals usually do not spread human scabies. It is also not very likely for scabies to be spread through swimming pools.

A type of scabies called crusted (Norwegian) scabies is a severe infestation with very large numbers of mites. People whose immune systems are weakened are most affected.

Symptoms

Symptoms of scabies include:

·       Severe itching, most often at night.

·       Rashes, mostly between the fingers and toes, undersides of the wrists, arm pits, women's breasts, buttocks.

·       Sores on the skin from scratching and digging.

·       Thin lines (burrow marks) on the skin.

·       Babies will likely have a rash all over the body, especially on the head, face, and neck, with sores on the palms and soles.

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will examine the skin for signs of scabies.

Tests that may done include:

·       Scraping the skin burrows to remove mites, eggs, or mite feces to examine under the microscope.

·       In some cases, a skin biopsy is done.

Treatment

HOME CARE

·       Before treatment, wash clothes and underwear, towels, bedding and sleepwear in hot water and dry at 140°F (60°C) or higher. Dry cleaning also works. If washing or dry cleaning can't be done, keep these items away from the body for at least 72 hours. Away from the body, the mites will die.

·       Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture.

·       Use calamine lotion and soak in a cool bath to ease itching.

·       Take an oral antihistamine if your provider recommends it for very bad itching.

MEDICINES FROM YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

The whole family or sexual partners of infected people should be treated, even if they do not have symptoms.

Creams prescribed by your provider are needed to treat scabies.

·       The cream most often used is permethrin 5%.

·       Other creams include benzyl benzoate, sulfur in petrolatum, and crotamiton.

Apply the medicine all over your body. Creams may be used as a one-time treatment or they may be repeated in 1 week.

For hard to treat cases, the provider may also prescribe a pill known as ivermectin as a one-time dose.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Itching may continue for 2 weeks or more after treatment begins. It will disappear if you follow the provider's treatment plan.

Most cases of scabies can be cured without any long-term problems. A severe case with a lot of scaling or crusting may be a sign that the person has a weakened immune system.

Possible Complications

Intense scratching can cause a secondary skin infection, such as impetigo.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if:

·       You have symptoms of scabies.

·       A person you have been in close contact with has been diagnosed with scabies.

Source https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000830.htm