| |
|
|
|
| Scabies |
|
| |
|
What is scabies? |
|
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny,
eight-legged burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei.
The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in
the area of its burrows. The urge to scratch may be especially
strong while you're in bed at night. |
|
Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close
physical contact in a family, child care group, school class
or nursing home. Because of the contagious nature of scabies,
doctors often recommend treatment for entire families or
contact groups to eliminate the mite.
Medications applied to your skin kill the mites that cause scabies, although
you may still experience some itching for several weeks. |
|
|
| |
| |
Symptoms |
|
| |
Scabies symptoms include: |
|
| |
- Itching, often severe and usually worse at night
- Thin, irregular burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or bumps
on your skin
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Diagnosis |
|
| |
To diagnose scabies, your doctor examines your skin, looking
for signs of mites, including the characteristic burrows. When
your doctor locates a mite burrow, he or she may take a scraping
from that area of your skin to examine under a microscope. The
microscopic examination can determine the presence of mites or
their eggs. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Treatment |
|
| |
Scabies treatment involves eliminating
the infestation with medications. Several creams and lotions
are available. You usually apply the medication over all your
body, from your neck down, and leave the medication on for at
least eight hours. Two medications commonly prescribed are permethrin and
crotamiton. Although these medications kill the mites promptly,
you may find that the itching doesn't stop entirely for several
weeks.
Doctors sometimes prescribe oral medications for people with altered immune systems
or for people who don't respond to the prescription lotions and creams.
Because scabies spreads so easily, your doctor may recommend treatment for all
family members and other close contacts, even if they show no signs of scabies
infestation. |
|
|
| |
| |
Prevention |
|
|
| |
To prevent re-infestation and to prevent the mites from spreading
to other people, take these steps: |
 |
|
| |
- Clean all clothes and linen. Use hot, soapy water to wash
all clothing, towels and bedding you used at least two days
before treatment. Dry with high heat. Dry-clean items you
can't wash at home.
- Starve the mites. Consider placing items you can't wash
in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it in an out-of-the-way
place, such as in your garage, for a couple of weeks. Mites
die if they don't eat for a week.
|
|
|
|
|
