Scabies is a dermatological disease caused by the scabies mite. The first signs of scabies are the appearance of a papulovesicular rash, the formation of which is accompanied by continuous itching and burning. Question: scabies symptoms are quite relevant, since you can become infected with the disease during contact with an affected patient. Dermatologists recommend that when you identify the first signs of an illness, seek help from specialists; delaying treatment can lead to complications in the form of a bacterial infection. Constantly scratching the affected area promotes infection.
The article provides information about the causes of scabies, symptoms and signs of the disease, and the most effective methods of treatment. You can also find out what types of scabies currently exist and how it is transmitted. Information regarding preventive measures to prevent the development of the disease in both adults and children will be useful. In addition, the material contains information about methods of treating scabies at home using traditional medicine.
General information about the disease
The first mention of scabies was recorded more than 2000 years ago. Descriptions of pathology are contained in sources such as the Old Testament and the works of the most influential philosopher of the 3-4 centuries BC. Aristotle, which indicates a fairly ancient origin of pathology. The ancient Greek aesculapians classified scabies as a skin pathology that had the general name “psora.” The name "scabies", which has come down to our time, was given to the disease by the Romans.
The assumption that the disease is parasitic in nature was repeatedly put forward in the works of medieval luminaries of medicine. And only with the advent of the optical microscope did this theory receive scientific substantiation.
A significant contribution to the study of scabies was made by the Austrian doctor, one of the founders of dermatology as a science, F. Hebra.
Ways to spread scabies
Most often, infection occurs through close contact with an affected patient, and cases of sexual transmission of scabies predominate. Children usually get scabies mites from their parents. A factor contributing to the spread of pathology is contact with a sick mother or father while sleeping together.
Additional methods of infection:
- through a handshake;
- during sports that involve close skin-to-skin contact;
- through everyday items, hygiene items (rather rarely)
Note! Modern medicine refutes the possibility of infection through household objects, with the exception of Norwegian scabies, in which the number of mites on the skin reaches up to a million. When compared with a typical type of disease, the number of ticks during its development usually does not exceed 10-20 parasites.
Additional Information! Today, scabies is included in the list of diseases that are sexually transmitted, despite the fact that for infection it is not intercourse itself that is important, but prolonged contact.
Causes
The causes of scabies are associated with unsanitary conditions and close contact with infected people. Since ticks are most active at night, the risk of infection is high when spending the night in the same bed with a sick person. Cases of household infection with itching are quite rare, but still possible, so all household items used by an infected person must be disinfected with special means or boiled/frozen.
Large spikes in incidence occur during the cool season, such as late autumn and early winter. At this time, people tend to stay indoors, crowding of a large number of people occurs, which makes it easier to become infected with scabies.
If a sick person was present in the room, the room must be left ventilated for at least 5 days, otherwise there is a risk of infecting other people. In winter, 24 hours of ventilation is sufficient, provided the room cools down to a temperature below zero.
Features of the scabies mite, life cycle of the parasite
Features of parasitosis include:
- infection occurs more actively at night, since female mites emerge on the skin surface only at night;
- the duration of penetration of the tick into the epidermis is about half an hour;
- The human body is the most favorable environment for the parasite; if it enters an external environment with temperatures above 21 degrees, it dies within 24 hours. Death is promoted by low humidity and high temperature. As for the activity of the parasite, it loses it almost immediately after separation from the body of a sick person.
The scabies mite is a human parasite, the females of which reach a size of 0.5 mm. It should be noted that they are twice the size of males. The mating process, immediately after which the males die, takes place on the surface of the epidermis. After fertilization, the female lays 3 or even 4 eggs in the scabies passage prepared in advance. No more than 4 days pass until the larvae are born, after which they begin to make furrows in the upper balls of the epidermis. The lifespan of a female can be up to six weeks.
The peak activity of the female mite occurs at night, which, in fact, justifies the increased discomfort caused by itching. Infection most often occurs at night, since it is at this time that females crawl to the surface of the skin to change their location and mate.
How does the disease manifest itself, its symptoms, stages?
The occurrence of scabies is characterized by the manifestation of a complex of symptoms, if detected, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. A qualified doctor can easily diagnose the pathology and differentiate it from other diseases with similar symptoms. The main symptom, as a rule, is the appearance of linear or zigzag furrows on the skin, the formation of which is accompanied by itching.
Stages of the disease
- infection, fixation of the parasite on human skin, passive residence of the tick on human skin during the incubation period. Usually this period does not exceed 5-6 weeks;
- the appearance of burning and itching in the affected areas;
- addition of a bacterial infection (in advanced cases).
The most favorite localization sites for parasites include:
- spaces between fingers;
- sides of fingers;
- bends at the elbows and knees;
- groin area (head of penis);
- underbelly.
At the initial stages of development of the pathology, a specific rash appears in the affected areas, gradually turning into small red nodules, predisposed to subsequent reunification. With the development of the disease, the nodules transform into vesicles covered with purulent or bloody crusts, which indicates the addition of a bacterial infection.
Prevention and reviews
To avoid the occurrence of this disease in adults and children, certain measures should be followed.
Measures:
- Observe hygiene rules.
- Do not use shared objects in public places.
- If there is a patient in the house, you must be careful, try to have less contact with him, and disinfect the room and linen.
Compliance with these rules will help you avoid getting sick with an unpleasant illness.
Scabies in adults is not uncommon. Any person anywhere can become infected. It is worth adhering to preventive measures and contacting a specialist in a timely manner.
Reviews
Elena:
I got infected on public transport, although I didn’t expect it. The doctor prescribed sulfur ointment. It smells terrible, but it really helped. Now I'm trying to be more careful.
Olga:
I never thought that I would catch such a disease. I got infected while trying on jeans while purchasing. At first I didn’t pay attention, and then I just ran to the doctor. For treatment I used benzyl benzoate. A very good product, it helped quite quickly.
Oleg:
I don’t even know how I got infected, but I was tormented by itching and rashes on my skin. I went to the doctor, he said it was scabies. He prescribed sulfur ointment. He recovered quickly, but the sensations are still unpleasant.
Types of scabies
The symptoms of scabies primarily depend on the type of disease. Thus, dermatologists distinguish the following types of pathology.
This is scabies:
- typical. This type is the most common; it is characterized by such manifestations as rash, itching and the occurrence of scabies;
- Norwegian At risk are people whose protective functions are significantly weakened. These are patients suffering from tuberculosis, AIDS, as well as patients with Down syndrome. The danger of Norwegian scabies is that it is painful, affects almost the entire skin and belongs to the category of the most contagious dermatological diseases;
- no moves. Feature of the pathology: absence of passages. Instead of furrows, bubbles ranging in size from 2 to 3 mm appear on the body. The reason that scabies without burrows differs from the typical form of pathology is that during infection it is not adult parasites that are transplanted, but larvae, which need to “ripen” in order to fully function;
- incognito or scabies of clean people. It has less pronounced symptoms than typical scabies due to the hygiene habits of the patient. People affected by the disease wash more often than others, thus washing away parasites located closer to the upper layers of the epidermis;
- pseudoscabies. The source of infection is usually a sick animal. Unlike other types of pathology, pseudoscabies goes away on its own. All that is required is to avoid contact with the affected animal;
- complicated. This type is characterized by the addition of an infection. The affected areas acquire an unpleasant odor, become more moist, and hurt.
Diagnostics
This contagious disease is diagnosed based on the general clinical picture and laboratory data. There are several methods for making a diagnosis:
- removing the mite from the end of the scabies tract using a needle and further examination under a microscope,
- a thin section of the skin layer in the area of tick advancement,
- layer-by-layer scraping until blood appears and microscopy study of the pathogen.
The final diagnosis is made after opening the scabies tract with a scalpel. The stratum corneum, located along the scabies tract, is carefully scratched with a blade. The resulting scrapings are examined microscopically on a glass slide. Fresh scrapings provide maximum results. You can detect scabies using iodine tincture. If you apply it to the skin, they turn brown.
Basic principles of scabies treatment
When fighting scabies mites, you must follow these rules:
- if symptoms of the disease are detected in one family member, it is necessary to treat the rest of the household;
- when using medications, you should follow the instructions;
- External products are recommended to be applied to all areas of the body, with the exception of the scalp and face. The restriction does not apply to children;
- To prevent further spread of the scabies mite, you need to cut your nails short and apply the treatment under the remaining nail plate as much as possible. Typically, parasite eggs accumulate in these places;
- ointments and medicinal creams must be applied in the evening;
- if a child is affected by scabies, it is better to isolate him for up to 10 days;
- It is better to rub the external product onto the hairy parts of the body using a brush.
The most effective remedies for treating scabies are:
- Benzyl benzoate;
- Sulfuric ointment;
- Spregal spray;
- Permethrin;
- Lindane lotion.
General recommendations
The fastest way to get rid of scabies is to go to a medical facility, make a diagnosis and use the medications recommended by your doctor.
General clinical recommendations for the treatment of this disease are as follows:
- All people living with the patient in the same apartment are treated at the same time, since scabies is extremely contagious, that is, everyone is required to undergo treatment, even if there are no signs of pathology.
- To avoid becoming infected a second time, before starting therapy, you should treat personal items, linen, furniture, carpets, and personal items; any dry cleaning can help with this.
- Doctors recommend applying the medicine to the skin yourself; this recommendation is due to the fact that it is through the palms that parasites are most often transmitted, that is, a person, lubricating, for example, the affected area on the abdomen, simultaneously treats the hands.
- When applying the product to other people, for example, when parasites are localized on the back, if the person does not have signs of the disease, disposable surgical gloves should be used.
- Nails need to be cut short and the areas under the nail plates treated with the same medicine as the affected areas of the body, this is necessary because mite eggs accumulate under the nails, which got there as a result of scratching.
- For hygiene, laundry soap or tar soap is recommended; these soaps are poorly tolerated by the parasite and do not affect the effectiveness of treatments; other means of maintaining cleanliness should be excluded during treatment.
- You need to apply the medicine prescribed by your doctor late in the evening, before going to bed, this is due to two factors - the night activity of ticks and the fact that the medicine relieves itching, that is, the person will get enough sleep and the ticks will die.
If chemical cleaning services are unavailable for some reason, you can get rid of parasites on things the old fashioned way.
The time-tested handling of things comes down to this:
- boiling for at least 5 minutes;
- exposing things to fresh air for 3-5 days;
- an alternative to exposure to air is sealed packaging in film for 3-5 days;
- ironing with a hot iron.
These methods are effective against adult ticks and larvae. It is impossible to cure scabies without following the above recommendations, since the person will constantly become infected.
Treatment of scabies at home
Traditional recipes also have a beneficial effect in the fight against the disease. So, you can treat the affected skin with an infusion based on celandine. To prepare it, take 4 tablespoons of Vaseline and mix them with one spoon of celandine juice. The resulting product must be applied to the skin in affected areas.
In this case, birch tar has healing properties. The product should be applied daily until complete recovery.
When identifying the first signs of pathology, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist and carry out treatment procedures. Please note that the appearance of a scabies mite on the body has nothing to do with neglecting hygiene rules, so you can only protect yourself from the parasite by avoiding contact with the affected person. It is for this reason that when a tick is detected in one of the family members, simultaneous treatment is carried out for the rest of its members.
Skin disease in children
The symptoms of scabies in children are similar to those that appear in adults. But at the same time, a vesiculourtic rash and paronychia are present, and onychia and weeping develop.
In children of six months, scabies resembles hives - there are many blisters and scratches on the skin. The skin of the face, back, and buttocks are mainly affected. Infantile scabies can resemble eczema. It is characterized by intense itching, and not only on damaged areas of the skin. The child does not sleep well and allergic dermatitis develops. Possible lymphadenitis and lymphangitis, leukocytosis, eosinophilia, accelerated ESR. Infants may develop sepsis. Treatment is recommended strictly in the evening or before bedtime, since it is at this time that the tick is most active. In addition, the drugs allow the child to sleep better, and the effect of the medication will continue throughout the night.
It is recommended to swaddle infants with scabies tightly and wear protective mittens on their hands to prevent the infection from getting into the mouth or eyes. Scabies often recur in children, so it is important to treat the whole family. Individual items and utensils are allocated to a patient with scabies. Clothes and bedding should be changed every day. They are subject not only to washing, but also to boiling and ironing on both sides. Rooms must be cleaned daily. If you follow all these recommendations, scabies in a child can be cured very quickly - recovery will occur within a week.
