Description

Scabies is an itchy skin rash caused by a tiny burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. Intense itching occurs in the area where the mite burrows. The need of zero may be stronger in the night.

Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close person-to-person contact in a family, child care group, school class, nursing home or prison. Because scabies is so easily spread, doctors often recommend treating the whole family, or any close contacts.

Scabies is easily treated. Medicated skin creams or pills to kill the mites that cause scabies and their eggs. But the itching can't leave for several weeks after treatment.

Symptoms

The symptoms of scabies include:

  • Itching, often severe and usually worse at night.
  • Thin, undulating tunnels made up of tiny blisters or bumps on the skin

Scabies is often found in the folds of the skin. But the scabies can appear in many parts of the body. In older children and adults, scabies is most often found:

  • Between the fingers of the hands and feet
  • In the armpits
  • Around the waist
  • Along the inner side of the wrists
  • On the inside of the elbows
  • On the soles of the feet
  • In the chest
  • Around the nipples.
  • Around the navel
  • Around the genitals
  • In the area of the groin
  • In the buttocks

In infants and young children, the most common sites of scabies usually include:

  • The fingers
  • The face, scalp and neck
  • Palms of the hands
  • The soles of the feet

If you've had scabies before, symptoms may begin within a few days of exposure. If you've never had scabies, it may take up to six weeks for symptoms to start. You can still spread scabies even if you don't have any symptoms yet.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms of scabies.

Many skin conditions, such as dermatitis or eczema, can also cause itching and small bumps on the skin. Your health care provider can find the exact cause of the symptoms, so that you receive the appropriate treatment. Antihistamines or lotions counter can relieve itching. But don't get rid of the mites or their eggs.

Causes

Scabies is caused by a small, eight-legged mites. The female mite burrows under the skin and makes a tunnel where they lay eggs.

The eggs hatch and the larvae of mites reach the surface of the skin, where they mature. These mites may then spread to other areas of the skin or the skin of other people. The itching is caused by the body's allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs and their waste.

Close to the skin-to-skin contact and, less frequently, sharing clothing or bedding with a person who has scabies can spread the mites.

Pets do not spread scabies to human beings. The scabies mites that affect the animals do not survive or reproduce in people.

However, coming into contact with an animal that has scabies can cause a brief stinging if the mite gets under the skin. But within a couple of days, the mites die. So no treatment is needed.

Complications

Scratching too much can break the skin and cause an infection, such as impetigo. Impetigo is an infection on the surface of the skin which is most commonly caused by staph bacteria (staphylococcus) or sometimes by streptococcus bacteria (strep).

A more severe type of scabies called crusted scabies, may affect certain people, including:

  • The small children
  • People with developmental disabilities
  • People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or lymphoma, or people who have had organ transplants
  • People who are very sick, such as people in hospitals or nursing facilities
  • The elderly in nursing homes

Crusted scabies causes the skin with scabs and peeling of the skin, and affects large areas of the body. It is very contagious and can be difficult to treat. Rapid treatment with a prescription of pills and a cream for the skin, it is necessary to.

Normally, a person with scabies has around 10 to 15 mites. But someone with crusted scabies may have millions of mites. However, the itching may not occur or may be mild.

Prevention

To prevent scabies from coming back and to keep the mites from spreading to other people, take these steps:

  • Wash all clothing and bed linen. The heat kills the mites and their eggs. Use hot water and soap to wash all clothes, towels and linens used in the last three days before the start of the treatment. Dry with high heat. Dry clean items you can't wash at home.
  • Starve the mites. Place items you can't wash in a sealed plastic bags and leave them in an out-of-place, like in your garage, for a week. The mites die after a couple of days without food.
  • Clean and empty. It is a good idea to clean your house to prevent the spread of scabies. This is especially true for people with crusted scabies. Empty of furniture, carpets and floors to remove scales and crusts that may have scabies.

Diagnosis

To diagnose scabies, your health care provider is seen in the skin of the symptoms of mites. Your provider may also take a sample of skin to look at under the microscope. This allows your doctor to see if any mites or eggs.

Treatment

Scabies treatment involves killing the mites and their eggs with a medicated cream or pill. The treatment is Not available without a prescription. Several creams and lotions are available with a prescription.

Your doctor will probably ask you to apply the medicine to your entire body, from the neck down. You will need to leave at least 8 to 14 hours. Sometimes, you may have to apply the lotion two times. More treatments may be necessary if new symptoms appear..

Because scabies is so easily spread, your doctor will likely recommend treatment of all family members and other close contacts, even if they have no symptoms of scabies..

Treatment for scabies, often, includes:.

  • Permethrin cream. Permethrin is a cream for the skin with chemicals that kill the mites that cause scabies and their eggs. It is generally considered safe for adults, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children over 2 months of age.
  • Sulfur cream. Sulfur cream is a treatment for scabies that can be applied during the night, rinsed, and then re-apply for five nights in a row. The sulfur is safe to use in pregnancy and in children under 2 months of age.
  • Ivermectin (Stromectol). Ivermectin can be taken as a pill to treat scabies when prescription lotions do not work. It is often prescribed for people with crusted scabies, or low immune system. Ivermectin is not recommended for people who are pregnant or breast-feeding, or for children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms).

Although these drugs kill the mites quickly, itching can't stop for many weeks.

Health care providers may prescribe other skin care treatments for the people who don't get relief or not the use of these drugs.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Your skin can still sting for several weeks after treatment for scabies. Take allergy pills or use of medications without a prescription skin creams, such as calamine lotion may help relieve the itching.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a member of your health care team if you or your child has symptoms of scabies.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

Things to do before your appointment

  • List any symptoms you or your child has had, and for how long.
  • List any possible source of infection, such as other members of the family who have had a rash.
  • Make a note of the key medical information, including other health problems, and the names of the medicines that you or your child is taking.
  • Write down the questions you want to ask your provider.

Below are some basic questions to ask your vendor about the scab.

  • What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • When my symptoms improve with treatment?
  • When will you see me or my son again to make sure that the treatment is working?
  • There are home remedies or measures of self-care that I use for relieving the symptoms?
  • Am I or is my child contagious? For how long?
  • How can I prevent the spread of scabies to others?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask several questions. In the preparation of these questions ahead of time can help ensure that you get the most out of your appointment. Your provider may ask:

  • What symptoms have you noticed?
  • When did you first notice these symptoms?
  • Have these symptoms worsened over time?
  • If you or your child has a rash, which parts of the body are affected?
  • Have been in frequent contact with someone who has had a skin rash, itching, or both, in the last few weeks?
  • Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
  • Do you or your child are being treated or have you or your child has recently been treated for any other medical condition?
  • What medications are you taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and supplements?
  • Is your child in child care?

What you can do in the meantime

Before your appointment, try at home and the counter remedies to help reduce the itching. Allergy pills and calamine lotion may provide some relief. Ask your doctor what over the counter medications and lotions are safe for your child.

Symptoms and treatment of Scabies