how do you get rid of scabees not scabs?
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Answers:
Scabies in Latin means “itch”. It is a contagious skin infection that causes blisters characterized by tiny bugs that burrow into the top layer of the skin to lays eggs. The burrows appear reddish or darker and especially found in areas such as wrists or in between fingers. The bug or the mite is a parasite Sarcoptes scabies, which completes its entire life cycle on humans but they are unable to reproduce on humans and only cause infections. The mite which is about 0.3-0.4 mm long is a female which can be seen with a naked eye. The infection is transmitted either through sexual contact or through skin to skin contact.
Scabies are of two types:
Classic scabies In this type of scabies the mites that live on host ranges anywhere between 5-15. The evidence of infection is
very little during first 2-6 weeks but after a month hypersensitivity reaction occurs due to mites, eggs and packet of feces.
Norwegian or crusted scabies So called because the first description was from Norway. It is a highly contagious and distinctive form of scabies. Here hundreds to millions of mites live on the host especially on immuno compromised individual, physically or mentally disabled. The lesions are thick and widespread over the elbows, palms, knees etc.
Signs and symptoms
The most common symptom seen of scabies is severe itching which is due to delayed allergic response which occurs generally after 30-40 days after infestation. The itching is more after a hot bath or during night times.
The infection begins as itchy bumps or blisters and break when it is scratched.
The mite or bug is seen in the naked eye as a small white dot.
The mite may appear at the end of burrow or independently.
The mite dissolves into the skin using proteolysis enzyme and lays eggs inside the burrows which appear as thin, short, gray brown, wavy channel on the skin.
These burrows are found in the webs of fingers, surface of wrists, in the folds under the arms. The other parts of the body generally affected are the breasts of females, genital areas of male and lower buttocks.
In woman the nipple and areola of the breasts are affected often and in men red papules or nodules appear on the penile glans, shaft and scortum.
This infection may be secondarily infected by bacteria when scratched. This bacterial infection is called Impetigo.
While scabies is spared on faces and head of adults it is seen in infants.
People with less immunity for example those with HIV infection or those treated with immunosuppressive drugs like steroids the rashes may spread more widely and such type of scabies is called Norwegian scabies.
Other complications of scabies include furunculous and cellulites. The streptococci in the abrasion can lead to pyelonephritis, abscesses, pyogenic pneumonia, sepsis and death.
Treatment or diagnosis
Following are the treatments given for scabies
If scabies is suspected the infected pert of the skin is scraped and tested under a microscope for scabies mites.
A medicated cream or lotion is prescribed by the doctor to kill the mites. The prescribed medicine usually would be antihistamine to relieve itching and hydrocortisone to relieve from rashes. It should be applied all over the body and not just on the affected part. The lotion should remain on the body for about 8-12 hours before it is washed. Treatment is repeated in 1 week.
Since scabies is transmitted sexually the sexually active teens with scabies are tested for other sexually transmitted diseases along with their partners.
If scabies is suspected the affected area can also be rubbed with ink from a fountain pen or a tetracycline solution and then wiped with an alcohol pad.
Although mites are killed during the treatment, the itching lasts for 3-4 weeks after the treatment. Ivermectin is found to be effective for curing this. However the treatment is advised to be repeated after 14 days.
All the household contacts such as clothes and bedding with scabies affected person also should be treated simultaneously since there are chances of the person getting reinfected.
Other medicines include lindane, Malathion, permethrin, benzyl benzoate, 10% sulfur ointments etc.
It is recommended not to use steroids or corticosteroids since they can cause weakened immune system creating worst type of scabies.
As mentioned earlier people with compromised immune systems are unable to develop antibodies to the mites and they are affected with Norwegian scabies where the mites population multiply to hundreds, thousands and sometimes millions in AIDS patients. Such people require additional treatment to ensure that the mite is completely killed. Doctors recommend these patients to be treated with Ivermectin combined with any other topical treatment.
After the treatment certain follow up is recommended:
The environment around the scabies affected person should always be kept clean. During the treatment it is advised to use hand gloves while applying creams or cleaning.
All members in the family must be treated and cleaning must be done simultaneously.
The towels, bedding including pillows and mattress must be washed everyday at least for three days after each treatment.
Miscellaneous cleaning such as cleaning the brushes and combs thoroughly should be repeated at the time of second follow up of the treatment.
Carpets, rugs and furniture’s must be vacuumed daily.
Moping of floor and bathroom surfaces should be done everyday.
Scabies can affect even the pets. So if pets are there at home it is recommended to treat them with pemethrin shampoo.
Prevention:
The mites that cause scabies are unable to move or fly. They can only crawl instead. The rate at which they crawl is 2.5 cm/min. Since the life cycle of mites are completely dependent on their hosts they are capable of living on bedding, clothing at a room temperature up to 48 hours. The transmission can take place when indirectly contacted with such bedding or clothes since the mites that cause scabies can live as long as 2 to 3 days in clothing. But this type of transmission is not usual. The transmission occurs mainly by contacting the scabies affected person directly either hand to hand or through sexual contacts.
Prevalence:
This disease is most common in tropical and subtropical regions. Prevalence rates are extremely high in Australia, Africa, South America and other developing regions of the world. In India, Bangladesh is affected more in infants along with respiratory diseases. Worldwide, the prevalence of scabies is estimated about 300 million every year. In the United States it is seen frequently in nursing homes, hospitals and many other institutions. Although scabies appear to be common in younger population it occurs in all ages and in both the sexes and frequent with poverty and crowding.
Other Answers:
I still think you made a mistake with your question. Scabies inhabit your pubic area, scalp and any hairy surface. Scabs are places where you scraped your skin off. So which it is?
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