Contents:
- Medical Video: Causes Symptoms and Treatment of Scabies
- What is scabies?
- How can I get scabies?
- What are the symptoms of scabies?
- How to diagnose scabies?
- How to treat scabies?
- To make sure the mites are dead:
Medical Video: Causes Symptoms and Treatment of Scabies
There are many sexually transmitted diseases, but maybe in your mind mange is not one of them. In fact, this skin disease can be transmitted to you through sexual intercourse. Here are some facts to help you understand scabies and how to protect yourself.
What is scabies?
Scabies is a very itchy skin condition caused by mites that hide on your skin. Itching is caused by an allergic reaction to mites.
Scabies is very easily transmitted from person to person, and can occur in people of any age regardless of income level, social class or life situation.
With treatment, scabies mites will die and the itching will disappear within a few days or weeks. Without treatment, the mites will continue to reproduce under the skin, causing more pain and itching.
How can I get scabies?
Scabies mites spread from person to person from close contact, such as sleeping on the same bed or touching someone's skin. Mites can also be spread with alternating towels, clothes and personal items.
Scabies often occurs in several family members simultaneously. You can pass on to others before you feel symptoms.
What are the symptoms of scabies?
Scabies has 2 main symptoms:
- Severe itching that usually worsens at night. Children and elderly people tend to experience the most severe itching.
- Resilient rashes or small cuts. Children tend to have skin reactions that are worse than parents.
Areas where symptoms usually appear:
- Between the fingers and the inside of the wrist.
- On the outer surface of the elbow and in the armpit.
- Around the waist and navel.
- Around the nipple, bra line, and side of the chest (in women).
- In the genitals (in men).
- In infants and young children, itching and skin irritation can also appear on the scalp, neck, face and palms and soles of the feet.
If you have scaly and crusty wounds, you may experience rare types of scabies, namely crusty scabies or Norwegian scabies.
If this is the first time you have scabies, it may take several weeks before you experience itching and sores on the skin. But if you have had scabies before, symptoms may appear within a few days.
How to diagnose scabies?
Usually doctors diagnose scabies based on the symptoms that appear. Scabies will likely occur if you make close contact with other people with symptoms of scabies.
Maybe you need a test to confirm whether you have scabies. For example, doctors can gently scrape dry skin from the affected area and examine it with a microscope to see mite signs.
How to treat scabies?
Scabies cannot disappear by itself. To overcome and prevent the spread, you need to use special creams or lotions given by your doctor. These products contain permethrin or other ingredients. In severe cases, doctors can also give pills.
Generally, creams or lotions are applied to the entire body from the neck down. Medications can also be given to the scalp, face and neck, but avoid areas around the mouth and eyes. Leave the medicine for 8 to 14 hours, then rinse.
Children can usually return to child care or school after treatment is completed.
Some scabies are not safe for children, the elderly, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. To prevent dangerous side effects, be sure to follow the doctor's instructions correctly.
If you have scabies, you and anyone close to you should be treated immediately. This prevents mites from spreading to other people. Until the scabies has disappeared, you should avoid contacting anyone and make sure not to share personal objects.
To make sure the mites are dead:
Wash all clothes, sheets and towels that you use 3 days before you take care. Use hot water and a hot dryer. Other options are for dry-clean these items, or store them in a plastic bag for 3 to 7 days.
Clean and vacuum the room used by people who have scabies.
After treatment, itching usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. Antihistamines (like Benadryl), steroid creams, or in serious cases, steroid pills can reduce itching. Before you use these drugs, consult a doctor.
If you still experience symptoms after 4 weeks, you may need to take medication again.
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