Prashant Yadavover 5 years ago

Scabies

What is scabies? Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a mite known as the Sarcoptes scabiei. Untreated, these microscopic mites can live on your skin for months. They reproduce on the surface of your skin and then burrow into it and lay eggs. This causes an itchy, red rash to form on the skin. There are approximately 130 millionTrusted Source cases of scabies in the world at any given time. While it’s a highly contagious condition that can easily be passed from one person to another through direct skin contact, scabies isn’t a sexually transmitted disease. The infestation of mites may also be transmitted through infested clothing or bedding. Intimate contact isn’t necessary. Although scabies can be bothersome, they can usually be eliminated effectively. Treatment often consists of medications that kill scabies mites and their eggs. Since scabies is so contagious, doctors will usually recommend treatment for an entire group of people who are in frequent contact with a person who has scabies. Recognizing scabies bites and the distinctive red rash can help you find treatment faster. What does scabies look like?  Contains Graphic Imagery VIEW GALLERY Scabies symptoms After the initial exposure to scabies, it can take up to six weeks for symptoms to appear. The symptoms usually develop more quickly in people who’ve had scabies before. The hallmark symptoms of scabies include a rash and intense itching that gets worse at night. Continuous scratching of the infected area can create sores that become infected. If this occurs, additional treatment with antibiotics for the skin infection may be recommended. Common sites for scabies in older children and adults include the: wrist elbow armpit nipple penis waist buttocks area between the fingers Scabies in babies and toddlers, and sometimes the very elderly or immunocompromised, can include the: head face neck hands soles of the feet The rash itself can consist of tiny bites, hives, bumps under the skin, or pimple-like bumps. The burrow tracks of the mite can sometimes be seen on the skin. They may appear as tiny raised or discolored lines. What causes scabies? Scabies is the result of an infestation of tiny, eight-legged mites. These bugs are so small you can’t see them on your skin, but you can certainly see their effects. The mites will burrow into the top layer of your skin to live and feed. Female mites will lay eggs. Your skin will react to the mites and their waste, and you’ll develop a red, itchy rash. These mites are easily passed between people. Direct skin-to-skin contact is the most common way to share the infestation. The mites can also be spread through infested: furniture clothes bedding Facilities where people live in close contact to one another often see infestations spread easily. These may include nursing homes or extended-care facilities.