Scabies - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Scabies is a fairly common infectious disease of the skin caused by a mite. Scabies mites burrow into the skin producing pimple-like irritations or burrows. Infestation is common, found worldwide, and affects people of all races and social classes. The female insect burrows into the skin where she lays 1 - 3 eggs daily. A very small, hard to see, zigzag blister usually marks the trail of the insect as she lays her eggs. The burrows sometimes appear as short, wavy, reddish, or darkened lines on the skin's surface, especially around the wrists and between the fingers. The disease originates when a female mite parasite burrows under the surface of the skin to lay eggs, leaving a sometimes-visible wavy line and, occasionally, too, a little blister or pimple at the point of entrance. During her four-to five-week life cycle, the mite lays one or two eggs a day which, after three to five days, hatch into larvae. From five days to about two weeks later, the young develop into adults, mate, and the females dig new burrows.

Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact in a family, child-care group, school class or nursing home. The rash is extremely itchy (and often called "the itch " or "the seven-year itch") and can be difficult to diagnose. It can affect both humans and animals. Once recognized, scabies can be cured readily.

The most common locations for scabies are on the sides of fingers, between the fingers, on the backs of the hands, on the wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs and around the waist (belt line). The contact may be quite brief such as holding hands. Frequently it is acquired from children, and sometimes it is transmitted. If the scabies is present for several weeks, especiaIly in a child, there may be secondary infections such as boils, impetigo, or infections of tissues around the nails. In very severe casesin both children and adults, fever, headache, and malaisemay appear.

Scabies has been reported for more than 2500 years. Aristotle discussed "lice in the flesh," which resulted in vesicles, and Celsus recommended sulfur mixed with liquid pitch as a remedy for the disease. The infection spreads more easily in crowded conditions and in situations where there is a lot of close contact - like child-care centers or nursing homes. One of the great problems with scabies always has been misdiagnosisMedications applied to your skin kill the mites, although you may still experience some itching for several weeks. The infection produces intense itching, which usually gets worse at night. The mite is transmitted readily, often through a whole family, by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Some studies indicate that up to one sixth of scabies cases result from dancing or holding hands with someone infected and even a quick handshake can transmit the infection.

Causes of Scabies

The most comman causes of Scabies include the following :

• Scabies is caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) which burrows under the skin, but the rash and itch are much more widespread than the location of the mites.
• Humans can be affected by animal scabies.
• Scabies mites are transferred by direct skin-to-skin contact.
• Scabies can also be transmitted during contact.
• you can get scabies from touching something that the mite is on. It is believed that the mite can survive no longer than 2 days when not in contact with a human.

Symptoms of Scabies

Some sign and symptoms related to Scabies are as follows :

• Sores on the body caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria.
• The most common symptom of scabies is severe itching, which may be worse at night or after a hot bath.
• Scabies burrows appear as tiny grey irregular tracks between the fingers and on the wrists.
• Blisters and pustules on the palms and soles are characteristic of scabies in infants.
• It may also affect other areas of the body, particularly the elbows and the areas around the breasts, genitals, navel, and buttocks.

Treatment of Scabies

Treatment of Scabies are as follows :

• Wash all clothing, towels, and bed linens in hot water. Do not allow air drying. You should use the dryer.
• Vacuum your rugs, furniture, and bedding and throw the vacuum cleaner bag away when finished.
• Doctors treat scabies by prescribing a medicated cream or lotion to kill the mites.
• Occasionally, the rash area can become infected. This is separate from the scabies and is usually a bacterial infection. If this occurs, it is treated with an oral antibiotic or an antibiotic ointment applied to the area.
• The medication most commonly used to kill the mites is called Elimite (or permethrin cream).
• 25% Benzyl benzoate lotion, applied daily for 3 days
• 0.5% Aqueous malathion lotion, left on for 24 hours
• Skin lotions containing permethrin, lindane or crotamiton are available through a physician's prescription for the treatment of scabies.