Scabies - Symptoms & Treatment

Scabies refers to an infestation by the itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes. People with weakened immune systems and the elderly are at risk for a more severe form of scabies, called norwegian or crusted scabies. Scabies is transmitted readily, often throughout an entire household, by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, and thus is sometimes, although inaccurately, classed as a transmitted disease. Spread by clothing, bedding, or towels is a less significant risk, though possible. Scabies can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or personal hygiene. It does not select only those with low-income or poor housing conditions. Scabies is not the same as lice, although the treatment may be the same. The most common symptom of scabies is severe itching, which may be worse at night or after a hot bath. A scabies infection begins as small, itchy bumps, blisters, or pus-filled bumps that break when you scratch them. Impetigo, a bacterial skin infection, may occur in skin that is already infected with scabies.

Scabies is frequently misdiagnosed as intense pruritus before papular eruptions form. Men sometimes get what look like pimple. It is helpful to know that not every bump is a bug. Scabies infections need to be treated by a doctor. Call your child's doctor any time your child has a skin itch or rash that will not go away, especially if the itch is worse at night and seems to center around the wrists or the webbed part of the fingers. Scabies is almost always contracted by close human contact. Although less common, you can get scabies from touching something that the mite is on. It is believed that the mite can survive no longer than 2 days when not in contact with a human. To properly treat and kill the scabies mites and eggs, it is necessary to apply the lotion or cream thoroughly to all areas of the body from the chin down to, and including, the soles of the feet. The infected person's clothes, bedding and towels should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. It is important not to overuse treatment products.

Causes of Scabies

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite, called Sarcoptes scabiei. In rare cases, scabies can spread by contact with clothes, towels, bedding, and other personal items that were recently in contact with an infected person. Scabies can also be transmitted during contact. Scabies is contagious, and is usually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact or through contact with someone else who is infected with it. The infection spreads more easily in crowded conditions and in situations where there is a lot of close contact - like child-care centers or nursing homes. Indirect transfer from undergarments or bedclothes can occur only if these have been contaminated by infected people immediately beforehand.

Common causes and risk factors of Scabies:

• A tiny mite, called Sarcoptes scabiei.
• Close physical contact with an infected person can spread the mites.
• Sleeping in the bed of someone who has the problem.
• Animal scabies.
• Scabies can also be transmitted during contact.

Signs and Symptoms of Scabies

The earliest and most common symptom is intense itching, especially at night. A scabies infection begins as small, itchy bumps, blisters, or pus-filled bumps that break when you scratch them. If a child with scabies scratches the itchy areas of skin, it increases the chance that the injured skin will also be infected by bacteria. In adults, signs of scabies will usually appear first in body folds - particularly between the fingers, on the elbows or wrists, on the buttocks or waistline, around the nipples for women. Scabies rarely affects the skin above the neck.

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Sores on the body.
• Tiny grey irregular tracks between the fingers and on the wrists.
• Blisters and pustules on the palms and soles.
• Severe itching, which may be worse at night or after a hot bath.

Treatment for Scabies

Several lotions are available to treat scabies. Apply lotion to a clean body from the neck down to the toes and left overnight. Pregnant women and children are often treated with milder scabies medications. Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine can be useful in helping provide relief from itching. If scabies is suspected, the doctor may scrape a small part of the affected skin and examine the scrapings under a microscope for signs of scabies mites

Treatment may include:

• The doctor may prescribe antibiotics if your child develops a bacterial skin infection such as impetigo in addition to the scabies infection.
• Wash linens and bedclothes in hot water. Because mites don't live long away from the body, it is not necessary to dry-clean the whole wardrobe, spray furniture and rugs, and so forth.
• Skin lotions containing permethrin, lindane or crotamiton are available through a physician's prescription for the treatment of scabies.
• Cut your nails and clean under them thoroughly to remove any mites or eggs that may be present.
• The doctor may also prescribe an antihistamine to help relieve the itching and a cream like hydrocortisone to help the rash go away faster.