Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the outer layer of the skin, leading to an intensely itchy rash. It usually affects thin, delicate areas of the skin.
Main Symptom
- Severe, persistent itching, especially at night.
- Other symptoms include small red bumps, blisters, and secondary skin infections caused by scratching.
Causes of Scabies
- It is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, a microscopic mite with eight legs.
- Scabies spreads through:
1. Direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal.
2.Sexual contact (it is considered by many as a sexually transmitted infection).
Symptoms
- Symptoms usually appear 4–6 weeks after infection in first-time cases but appear earlier in people previously exposed.
- The rash typically affects:
Wrists, between the fingers, elbows, armpits, waist, knees, ankles, thighs, genitals.
In infants and young children, scabies may appear on:
- Scalp
- Face
- Neck
- Palms
- Soles
Other Signs
- Fine, pencil-like lines on the skin (mite burrows).
- Blisters, ulcers, and widespread rash, especially in children.
- Intense nighttime itching leading to difficulty sleeping.
Diagnosis
- Usually made by clinical examination, identifying: Rash, Burrows (thin gray, brown, or red lines under the skin)
- Sometimes a skin scraping or biopsy is done to confirm the presence of mites.
Living with Scabies
- Wash bedding and clothes in hot water.
- Treat all close contacts of the patient, even if they have no symptoms.
- Mites cannot survive long outside the human body, so cleaning all clothes or furniture is not necessary.
Prevention
- Avoid direct contact with infected individuals.
- Provide treatment for all household members if one is infected.
- Maintain personal hygiene and wash clothes and bed sheets in hot water.
- Sun-dry bedding and ventilate the house frequently.
Scabies spreads rapidly in schools, nurseries, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, locker rooms, and prisons.