Scabies

Scabies is a fairly general infectious disease of the skin caused by a mite. Scabies mites lair into the skin produce pimple like irritations or burrows. Scabies infestations can affect people from all socioeconomic levels without stare to age, sex, race or standards of individual hygiene. Clusters of cases, or outbreaks, are rarely seen in nursing homes, institutions and child care centers. Scabies mites are transfer by direct skin to skin contact. Indirect transfer from undergarments or bedclothes can happen only if these have been contaminated by infected people immediately beforehand. Scabies can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

The most prominent symptom of scabies is powerful itching particularly at night. The areas of the skin most affected by scabies contain the webs and sides of the fingers, around the wrists, elbows and armpits, waist, thighs, nipples, breasts and lower buttocks. Symptoms will come into sight from two to six weeks in people who have not previously been exposed to scabies infestations. People who have had a previous attack with scabies mites may show symptoms within one to four days after subsequent re-exposures. A person is able to spread scabies until mites and eggs are damaged by treatment.

Skin lotions containing permethrin, lindane or crotamiton are obtainable through a physician's prescription for the action of scabies. The lotions are applied to the whole body except the head and neck. Sometimes, itching may persevere but should not be regarded as treatment failure or reinfestation. Persons who have had skin contact with a diseased person should also be treated. Avoid physical contact with infested individuals and their belongings, particularly clothing and bedding. Health education on the life history of scabies, proper action and the need for early diagnosis and treatment of diseased individuals and contacts is extremely important.

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