Scabies - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei . The word scabies comes from the Latin word for "scratch" (scabere). Mites are small eight-legged parasites (in contrast to insects, which have six legs). They are tiny, just 1/3 millimeter long, and burrow into the skin to produce intense itching which tends to be worse at night. The mites which cause scabies are not visible with the naked eye but can be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope.

Scabies can affect people of any age but is most common in children and young adults. It is highly contagious and is spread by close physical contact, especially in overcrowded living conditions. There are sometimes outbreaks in schools and residential or nursing homes. It can also be passed on by sexual contact.

The elderly and people who do not have a fully functioning immune system are more likely to have crusted scabies . This is a highly contagious condition in which the skin thickens, forming a crust, and rather than having the usual amount of female mites (around 12), a person with crusted scabies can have an infestation of thousands. Crusted scabies is transmitted by physical contact and can also be transmitted via bedding, towels, clothes, and upholstery.

Scabies is a transmissible ectoparasite skin infection characterized by superficial burrows, intense pruritus and secondary infection . It is common all over the world, and it affects people of all races and social classes. Scabies is a very itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the outer layers of the skin.

In adults, the most common sites are between the fingers and on the wrists, although infection may manifest in elderly people as a diffuse truncal eruption. In infants and children, the face, scalp, palms, and soles are also often affected. Infection with the scabies mite causes discomfort and intense itching of the skin, particularly at night, with irritating papular or vesicular eruptions. The discomfort and itching can be especially debilitating among immunocompromised people, such as those with HIV/AIDS.

Causes of Scabies

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. Scabies is passed on from one person to another through intimate contact between bed fellows, infected bedding and clothes, by sharing a bed or from children who hold hands while playing. The mite can live on the discarded clothes for a couple of days. After contact, it takes about 6 weeks for the itching to start.

The itching is more severe at night. Soon a rash appears on the body this rash is not seen on the face and is most prominent on the hands, the waist, the abdomen and on the genitalia. Scabies is also caused by using the infected bedclothes and undergarments, but usually people do not get infected though mode as it is a very uncommon mode.

Symptoms of Scabies

1. Sores caused by scratching

2. Pimple-like irritations or a rash

3. Intense itching, especially at night

Treatment of Scabies

Skin lotions containing permethrin, lindane or crotamiton are available through a physician's prescription for the treatment of scabies. All are applied to the whole body except the head and neck, and the whole family should be treated at the same time.

The treatment of choice at the moment is Permethrin, in view of its relative safety, ease of application, and as it tends not to irritate the skin. This should be left on for at least eight hours. This may be used for the head and necks of children less than two years old. Benzyl benzoate emulsion. This is washed off after twenty four hours, and repeated two or three times. In infants or young children it is wise to dilute in two or three times as much water, as this helps reduce skin irritation.

About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes for health disorders. She also writes articles for online health tips and skin disorders.
http://www.skin-disorders-guide.com/

What Is Scabies?

Symptoms of scabies include a scabies rash, which looks like tiny red bumps or blisters, and severe itching. You may also see tiny red "threads" between the bumps, but these are so small that they can be difficult to see. The itching is by far the worst of the symptoms of scabies. It is relentless and can keep you up at night.

Scabies is a condition in which one becomes infested with mites called Sarcoptes scabeie. These eight-legged mites are about 1/3 of a millimeter long. They cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be viewed with a magnifying glass or microscope. The mites burrow into the skin and cause a scabies rash.

How do you get scabies?

You can get scabies through close physical contact with someone who has scabies. Close physical contact is required. For instance, scabies is often transmitted during sexual contact. It can also be spread from a parent to a child or from a child to a parent when the parent is holding the child. It is unlikely to be spread during casual contact like shaking hands with someone who has scabies, though.

The mites can only live outside the body for a very short time, so you are unlikely to get scabies from bed linens, clothing, towels, etc. that have been used by a person with scabies, though it is possible. You cannot get scabies by drinking from the same cup as someone who has it or by using the same bathroom. You should avoid close contact with anyone who has symptoms of scabies or a scabies rash, however.

Scabies cannot be spread from animals to humans. Dogs can get a form of mites that is often called "the mange" which has symptoms of scabies similar to those humans get, but it is not the same thing. People cannot get the same form of scabies that dogs get, and dogs cannot get the same form of scabies that people get.

How do you get rid of scabies?

If you have symptoms of scabies, you will want to get scabies treatment right away. Untreated, symptoms of scabies will just get worse and the itching will grow more and more severe.

Scabies treatment may include a topical cream and/or an oral medication. Generally only one or the other is prescribed. Both are about equally effective. The topical treatment has fewer side effects, but is messier and less convenient than the oral medication. The topical cream is usually applied to the skin from the neck down, left on for about eight hours or overnight, and then washed off. This should be repeated in seven days.

Oral medication is taken as soon as symptoms of scabies are diagnosed, and then a second dose is taken two weeks later. You will need to see a doctor to make sure that you have a scabies rash and not some other skin condition. Then your doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment for you. Family members or any other persons who may have been ex posed should also be treated, even if they do not show symptoms of scabies, but to be on the safe side.

It is usually recommended that you wash bed linens and clothing in hot water to kill any mites there. Scabies can live for about 24-36 hours outside of the body, so wash any clothing, towels, or other items you have used during that length of time prior to treatment. You do not need to worry about cleaning any other items because any mites left on them will die on their own.

Scabies is easy to diagnose and treat, so make sure you see your doctor at the first sign of a scabies rash so that you can begin scabies treatment right away.

About the author:

This article was written by Scott Mogul.
For more information about scabies and treatment, please visit for http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/ or http://www.quickcare.org.