Introduction to Scabies

If nighttime itching and little red bumps bother you, then it can be scabies, which is an itchy condition of the skin. The disease is mainly caused by Sacroptes scabiei. It is a female mite burrowed into the outer layer of skin. Larvae produced by the mite keep growing thereby producing allergic reactions in the skin. Indeed, millions of people suffer from scabies transmitted by these mites. Usually, scabies develop on warmer spots on the skin such as skin folds, space between the fingers, belt line, buttocks, and fingers.

Scabies is Contagious

Being a contagious disease, scabies can spread from one person to another by means of close contact. However, children and young adults suffer most from it. It is not uncommon to hear scabies outbreak in children nursing homes and certain areas with overcrowded living conditions. Thus, if scabies infects someone in your child's group, then you must get your child treated for the infection as a precaution. Moreover, scabies can affect older people too as they have an under-performing and weak immune system.

In scabies, the skin generally becomes thick and forms a crust on the outer layer. Most of us are acquainted with this condition, which is known as crusted scabies. A person suffering from such type of scabies can have an infestation of a thousand mites. Several sources attribute to its transmission including bedding, upholstery, towels, and clothes.

Generally, scabies starts to come into view in about 3 to 6 weeks of infestation. Nevertheless, in case a person gets infested again after an earlier experience of scabies, then there are more chances of the symptoms recurring in a few hours. This is because the body is previously sensitized to the mites causing scabies.

It would help to suggest a person with scabies not to scratch the itchy areas of skin, as it may add to the chances of bacteria infecting other parts of the unaffected skin. One of the most common bacterial infections that may occur in skin spoiled by scabies is Impetigo.

Getting a Diagnosis Done

Scabies is required to be treated by a doctor or skin specialist. See your dermatologist immediately when your child complaints of a skin itching or bump that will not go away. A diagnosis will certainly help in determining the type of skin infection, as scabies can affect more than one family member.

Never put the problem on the back burner, especially if the itching gets worse at night. It can be a case of scabies. If the infection turns out to be scabies, then your doctor may scratch a little part of the affected skin and observe it under magnification to look for signs of scabies mites. A scabies rash can sometimes seem like other itchy conditions such as eczema. This, at times can make the diagnosis difficult.

Usually, nearly all the dermatologists prescribe a medicated lotion to destroy the mites causing the skin condition. The sufferer will need to apply the lotion all over the body and not just the part with acute inflammation. Moreover, it should not be washed off before 8 to 12 hours of application. It will help not to wash the hands after applying the lotion, as the area between the fingers will remain protected from the attack of scabies mites. A person can apply the medication at night before sleep and follow it up by washing the lotion off in the morning. The treatment of scabies may take more than two weeks and the itchiness can continue for a few days after the treatment.

Scabies should be treated urgently to prevent it from spreading.

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