What is Scabies? What are the Symptoms of Scabies?
Scabies is a skin infestation caused by microscopic eight-legged mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. This disease occurs when scabies mites lay their eggs in the outer layers of the skin. Symptoms of scabies include itching, rashes, blisters, scabs and sores.
How is scabies transmitted?
Scabies is usually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. It can also be spread through sharing personal belongings. It can easily spread between family members, sexual partners, daycare centers, and people living in nursing homes. This disease is more common in places where sanitation conditions are not ideal and people are in close contact.
Can Pets Get Scabies?
Cats and dogs can also get scabies, but the type of scabies mite in these animals is different from that in humans. These animals cannot reproduce on human skin and even if they infect humans, they do not cause serious symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of Scabies?
Symptoms of scabies usually appear after four to six weeks. The most common of these symptoms are the following:
Intense itching, especially at night
Acne-like rashes
Redness
Crusts and blisters
Wounds
One of the distinguishing features of scabies is the appearance of long lines of pits in the skin. These raised lines are usually grayish white or flesh-colored. In addition, scabies mites prefer certain areas of the body, such as between the fingers, wrists, elbow or knee bends, around the waist or navel, breasts or genitals.
What are the symptoms of scabies?
Crusted scabies is a type of infestation in which tens of thousands of mites are present in an individual. It usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems, the elderly and people with disabilities. Crusted scabies is a contagious disease that requires prompt treatment.
Scabies Diagnosis
The diagnosis of scabies requires a doctor’s examination. The doctor examines the mites on the skin with a dermatoscope and, if necessary, performs localized scraping. Dermatoscopic examinations are important in the diagnosis of mites and eggs.
What is Scabies Treatment? How long does it last?
Scabies does not go away on its own, so it needs to be treated with prescription medication. The most common treatment is a cream or lotion applied to the whole body. This cream or lotion is left on the body for 8 to 14 hours and then washed off. In some cases, pills may be prescribed. The treatment period can last up to three days, depending on the medication used.
During treatment, antihistamine pills or hydrocortisone creams can be used to relieve the itching felt, but hydrocortisone cream should be used under a doctor’s supervision as it can alter the scabies rash.
To prevent the spread of scabies, once a person has been diagnosed with scabies, it is recommended to treat everyone who has had contact with the person. It is also important to wash infected items in hot water and dry used clothes in a hot dryer to check that the scabies mites are dead.
Scabies is a type of infestation that can be cured when treated. However, correct diagnosis and treatment are important.
