Medical Centric

SCABIES

Skin Conditions / By

SCABIES

Scabies is a transmissible skin disease characterized by relentless itching and an angry rash.

  • The itching and rash associated with scabies are as a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their waste, and their eggs.
  • It is highly contagious and can spread very easily from person to person.
  • The  mode of transmission is through a close skin contact with an infected person such as sexual contact among sexually active people, or through hugging.
  • Scabies can also be spread by sharing clothing, beddings, and furniture infested with mites.
  • Scabies commonly occurs in people in crowded living conditions, such as those found in prisons, child care group, family home, hospitals or nursing homes.
  • Scabies is estimated to affect over 300 million people each year throughout the world.
  • It can affect people of all ages, race, and gender.
  • Often, between 10- 15 mites are involved in an infection.
  • Scabies has nothing to do with poor hygiene and therefore anyone can be affected.
  • A more severe case is the crusted scabies that typically occurs in people with a weakened immune system.
  • In adults and older children, the infestation site may include armpits, knees, buttocks, around fingernails, in between the fingers, or soles of the feet.
  • In infants and young children, the site of infestation may include another part of the body like the scalp, neck, face, or palms of the hand.

CAUSES

  • Scabies is a dermatologic condition caused by an infestation by the female mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
  • The mites burrow into the skin to live and deposit eggs in the burrow tracks it has created.
  • Once hatched, the larvae move to the skin surface and spread across the body.
  • They take about 25 to 60 minutes to burrow into the skin
  • The female mites of about 0.3mm- 0.4mm long are the ones that infest humans.

SIGN & SYMPTOMS

  • Itching is one of the most common symptoms of scabies. It often gets worse at night and can be severe and intense.
  • Rash composed of small red bumps and blisters.
  • Sores
  • Loss of sleep due to intensely itching skin

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of scabies is based on the sign and symptoms. The doctor can diagnose scabies by examining the skin or by carrying out a skin scraping test. The skin is scraped sideways with a scalpel blade over an area of a burrow and a microscopic examination is undergone. This makes it possible to identify mites or eggs.

In situations where the diagnosis is difficult, polymerase chain reaction testing is available.

TREATMENT

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone with whom a patient has had recent close contact with will most likely be asked to receive treatment even if they do not have symptoms yet.

  • There are several medications available to treat infected people.
  • Scabicides such as ivermectin pills, crotamiton cream, permethrin cream, or lindane lotion can be administered.
  • Antihistamines, anti-itching lotions, and antibiotics can be useful in providing relief from itching.
  • Linens and bed clothes are to be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer