What Is Scabies?

What Is Scabies?                                                           Home

Scabies is a skin condition caused by an infestation of the human itch mite called sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites burrow into the skin and cause symptoms of itching and rash.

Most people with scabies only carry 10 to 15 mites at any given time, and each mite is less than half a millimeter long.

Transmission

through direct and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, as may occur among family members or sexual partners, Transmission through fomites (eg, clothing, bedclothes, or other objects) used by a person with classic scabies is uncommon; however, fomite transmission is more likely to occur in the setting of crusted scabies due to a much higher parasite burden

Scabies Symptoms

• Intense itching, especially at night

• A pimple-like rash

• Scales or blisters

• Sores caused by scratching

Another hallmark of scabies is the appearance of track-like burrows in the skin. 

 Itching and rash may affect much of the body or be limited to common sites such as:

• Between the fingers

• Wrist

• Elbow

• Armpit

• Penis

• Nipple

• Waist

• Buttocks

• Shoulder blades

a person gets scabies they usually have no symptoms during the first 2 to 6 weeks they are infested

Treatment

Acroding CDC:

In addition to the infested person, treatment also is recommended for household members and sexual contacts, particularly those who have had prolonged direct skin-to-skin contact with the infested person. Both sexual and close personal contacts who have had direct prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infested person within the preceding month should be examined and treated. All persons should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation. Scabies may sometimes be sexually-acquired in adults, but is rarely sexually-acquired in children.

Bedding, clothing, and towels used by infested persons or their household, sexual, and close contacts (as defined above) anytime during the three days before treatment should be decontaminated by washing in hot water and drying in a hot dryer, by dry-cleaning, or by sealing in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours. Scabies mites generally do not survive more than 2 to 3 days away from human skin.

According Health Line:

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD), some common medicines used to treat scabies include:

• 5 percent permethrin cream

• 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion

• 10 percent sulfur ointment

• 10 percent crotamiton cream

• 1 percent lindane lotion

Your doctor may also prescribe additional medications to help relieve some of the bothersome symptoms associated with scabies. These medications include:

• antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or pramoxine lotion to help control the itching

• antibiotics to kill any infections that develop as a result of constantly scratching your skin

• steroid creams to relieve swelling and itching

Complications of scabies

Scratching the rash can cause skin infections like impetigo.

Scabies can make conditions like eczema or psoriasis worse

How Soon Will Scabies Go Away?

According webmed: 

Scabies medications can kill the mites and eggs quickly, and patients can usually return to school or work 24 hours after starting treatment. However, the itch may persist for a few weeks. This is the result of an ongoing allergic reaction in the skin. If the itching continues for more than four weeks or a new rash appears, see your doctor. It may be necessary to reapply scabies medication.

References:

- https://www.slideshare.net/aashupatel98478/scabies-54261586

- https://www.healthline.com/health/scabies#treatment

- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-scabies-overview

- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/

- https://www.uptodate.com/contents/scabies-epidemiology-clinical-features-and-diagnosis?search=scabies&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~84&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/treatment.html