Scabies
Definition
Is a contagious skin infestation by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei
Symptoms and Signs
Severe itching more at night
Pimple-like rash
Tiny burrows in the skin
Symptoms start 2-6 weeks after infestation
Areas more prone for skin skin lesions : wrist, between fingers, waist line, axillae, scrotum, in children head
Excoriations, secondary bacterial infections
Pathophysiology
The mite burrows into the skin to live and deposit eggs.
Allergic reaction to the mites → itching
Transmitted by direct skin contact with an infected person (the infected person might not have developed symptoms yet)
Aetiology
Crowded living conditions
Areas with a lack of water supply
Poor immunity
Contact with contaminated objects
Treatment
Permethrin
Crotamiton
Lindane
all creams
Ivermectin pills
All the people in the same house treated at the same time
Bedding and clothing washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer
The mite does not live for more than 3 days away from human skin
Prevention of scabies
Mite - sarcoptes scabei burrow into the skin causing itcing.
Itching persists for 2 weeks even after treatment
- Avoid skin contact with infested persons
- Avoid contact with their bedding, clothing, furniture
- Avoid sexual or other intimate contact with them
- Casual contact like shaking hands may be permitted
- Treatment with permethrin for all the contacts in the household at the same time
- Permethrin can be used on infants 2 months and older, Lindane is not for children
- All the clothes washed in hot water and dried in the hot sun or using the hottest dryer cycle
- Since mites do not survive for more than two or three days away from human skin, furniture can be enclosed in plastic bags for several days. and kept away.
- First infestation may not cause itching for upto two months, but may spread
- Scabies may be misdiagnosed as pimples or mosquito bites - henc avoid contact
- Norwegian, or crusted, scabies is less common but is a particularly severe form of the condition that requires more stringent prevention methods, including thorough cleaning of all rooms used by the affected person.
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