Scabies is the technical name given to scabies, a skin disease that produces reddish papules on the skin and a lot of itching. Its treatment is done with the use of creams to treat infestation and through good personal hygiene.
Scabies have a cure, but in order to achieve it, it is necessary to eliminate the eggs from the parasites that are in the body and in the environment where one lives.
This infestation is caused by the sarcoptes scabiei mite that is easily transmitted from person to person through physical contact, and rarely by clothing or other shared objects. The female mite digs tunnels under the top layer of the skin and deposits its eggs that, after a few days, hatch into larvae, causing a lot of itching.
Main symptoms
The main characteristic of scabies is the intense itching that increases at night, however, there are other signs to be aware of. So if you think you may have scabies, check which of the symptoms you are feeling:
- 1. Itchy skin that worsens at night Yes No
- 2. Small blisters on the skin, especially on the folds Yes No
- 3. Red plaques on skin Yes No
- 4. Lines near bubbles that look like paths or tunnels
Excavations of mites appear as wavy lines up to 1.5 cm in length, which sometimes have a small crust at one end due to the scratching of the skin.
The most preferred sites for these mites are the fingers and toes, wrists, elbows, armpits, around the women's nipples, penis and scrotum along the waist line and on the bottom of the buttocks. In infants, scabies may appear on the face, which rarely occurs in adults, and the lesions may appear to be water-filled blisters.
How to confirm the diagnosis
In order to diagnose scabies, scraping of the excavations can be done and sent for further analysis of the material under a microscope.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment of scabies is done by applying a cream containing permethrin, benzoyl peroxide or ivermectin throughout the body, from the nose line down, for about 3 consecutive days. After 7 or 10 days, a new treatment should be performed, which should also last about 3 days, to eliminate possible eggs that have not hatched during the first phase of treatment.
Normal cleaning of clothing is sufficient to eliminate the mite, but family members and individuals who have had close contact with an infected person should also be treated.
Also see how to prepare a home remedy for scabies and relieve the symptoms at home.
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