Have you ever experienced a sudden itch that never seems to stop? Most people can relate to an intense desire to scratch. But when the itching gets so intense you cannot sleep, seek help immediately since it might be Scabies.
So, what is Scabies? It’s a parasitic infestation caused by mites that burrow directly under the skin. Close physical contact in a family, daycare center, school class, nursing home, or prison can spread scabies quickly across a community.
Scabies is contagious, so doctors frequently recommend treating an entire family or group of people. This skin condition results from mites that lay eggs on your skin. This condition is easily treatable thankfully. There are medications available that eliminate eggs and mites. However, you may still itch for a few weeks after treatment.
Causes of Scabies
According to historians, human scabies was discovered in 1687, although they have been present in animals and humans since biblical times. Studies show that human scabies are among the first diseases with a known cause and one of the most infectious diseases a person could contract.
Scabies is caused by a parasite called Sarcoptes Scabiei that burrows into humans and other mammals' epidermis. There is a lot of pain and discomfort associated with the condition, which can last for months at a time. Scabies can spread quickly, which makes them easy to spread to family, pets, and friends.
The move of scabies into areas that are not infected can cause physical irritation, itching, and skin sores. Scabies causes the skin to become dry, red, irritated, and itchy. It causes intense headaches and migratory pain in the joints to occur.
Signs and Symptoms of Scabies
Symptoms often begin after an incubation period and strike when the parasite is in its mature stage when it lives deep in the skin. As a result, you are contagious and can spread the infection from the moment you contract it. There are many frequent symptoms.
Itching is a common symptom of scabies, especially around the chest, hands, legs, arms, and genital region. An infected person usually shows signs of scabies by a rash on the waist, armpits, fingers, wrists, and genital area. The rash resembles psoriasis, dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, and hot tub folliculitis. Signs of scabies include:
- Purple or red color
- Lines between colored areas (burrows)
- Tiny spots
- Bumpy skin
- Visible pus
There are also some symptoms which are rarer. When pain is present with a scabies rash, it can cause discomfort due to scratches, deep skin wounds caused by scratching, or bacterial infections. The condition can be quite severe, with blisters, swelling, or redness, although it is not common. If you are allergic to the parasite, you might experience a more severe reaction.
When scabies are present in a certain area with a strong concentration of mites, the skin can become crusted. This condition is one of the most advanced forms of scabies. The disease is highly contagious, hard to treat, and it exacerbates the effects on those who have weakened immune systems.
Treating Scabies
A product used to treat scabies should be a scabicide, which means that it should destroy both the eggs and the mites. Getting scabies treatment over the counter (OTC) is a convenient way to take care of the condition. In spite of some sources recommending home remedies for scabies, no OTC scabies treatments have been approved for use in treating scabies. As a result, scabies rashes and infections require specific scabies medication and lifestyle interventions to ensure that the infection does not return.
If you have pain along with the itching, your doctor can prescribe either topical or oral pain or anti-inflammatory medication. However, if you have scabies lesions that become infected with bacteria, you will need a different treatment.
Scabies cream medications are often effective for treating mild cases of scabies. However, for more complex cases of scabies, such as crusted scabies, oral and topical medications are necessary. In order to treat scabies, a doctor may prescribe a variety of things.
Lifestyle modifications can also prevent a scabies mite from returning. Using hot water to wash your towels and clothing and a hot dryer to dry your bedding can help decontaminate them just before treatment. If the infection persists, the person who has scabies should also treat close contacts at the same time.
