Sarcoptes Scabiei var. Hominis

Scabies is a fierce, contagious, itchy skin disorder caused by a very small wingless mite called the Human Itch Mite or the Scabies Itch Mite. Scabies are very hard to detect. They are a tiny eight legged creature with a round body at about 0.4mm in size. This mite has infested humans for at least 2,500 years and are estimate that more than 300 million cases of scabies occur worldwide every year. The condition can strike anyone of any race or age, regardless of personal hygiene.

Development of Scabies:

Scabies are so microscopic that they cannot be seen by the naked eye

•  Mite burrows into the skin of the infected person
• Within several weeks allergic reaction develops into a rash.
• females lay eggs under the skin for about 5 weeks produces secretions
• Larvae travel to the skin's surface; lying in shallow pockets until they become adults: cycle starts over
• Scabies are caught by close contact- rapidly spreads under crowded conditions
• Scabies hide in warmer areas of bodies where skin folds or gets covered constantly                       

                             -sides of fingers

                             -between fingers

                             -back of hands                                                              

                             -on wrists, heels, elbows, armpits

                             -inner thighs, on belt line of stomach

                             -buttocks

                             -penis/ around nipples

• Bacterial infection can occur from constant itching
• Scabies are attracted to warmth and odor
• If mite is scratched off skin it can live up to 48-72 hours
• When living on a person it can live up to a month
• Typically less than 10 mites are on an entire body

Symptoms:

               -The earliest and most common symptoms of Scabies is itching, most severely at night.

               -Then little red bumps like hives or pimple like rashes occur on skin making skin crusty.

               -Intense itching creates sores on body

               -in children: infestation can occur in whole body; The child may be tired and irritable as a result of loss of sleep from itching   

                or scratching all night

                -Bacterial infection can occur due to scratching.

Diagnosis:

check your whole body from head to toe under good lighting, with special attention to skin crevices. You can do this at home or in your Dermatologist's office. You do not need any special tests to detect scabies, but instead can have a painless test that involves applying a drop of oil to the suspected lesion. The site is then scraped and transferred to a glass slide which is then examined using a microscope. A diagnosis is made by finding scabies mites or their eggs.

People at Risk:

Anyone can catch scabies especially if you are in close contact with many people.

• People with weakened immune systems are mostly at risk
• children; especially those under the age of 2
• Elderly; especially those at nursing homes

          Scabies among elderly who are patients of nursing homes and extended care facilities has become a common problem because of the delayed diagnosis and the often mistake for other skin conditions. The delay allows time for scabies to spread to nursing home staff and other residents. Because residents require assistance in daily living activities, this exposure provides an opportunity for the scabies mite to spread.

• Family members who have close contact with those who have scabies

Other Forms of Scabies:

-Crusted Scabies

-Severe Scabies

-Norwegian Scabies

-Pseudoscabies

How to get rid of Scabies:

 Upon infection of Scabies, you should bathe regularly, and try the use of saunas. Sulfur can be used to get rid of mites, however Permethrin 5%, a pesticide, is a drug of choice. This cream is applied to the skin from head to toe at bedtime and washed off the next morning. It is recommended that this cream should be applied to cool, dry skin, over the entire body and left on for about 8-14 hours.

 Another effective prescription treatment is 1 percent lindane lotion. Also an overnight treatment, lindane is effective after 1 to 2 doses. Patients using lindane are instructed to wash the lotion off after 8 to 12 hours, not to exceed recommended doses, and to avoid a second treatment within a 7-day period. Lindane should not be used on infants, small children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with seizures or other neurological diseases.

The most important factor in the treatment of scabies is to get rid of the mite. Everyone who come in frequent contact with an infected person should get treated whether they are itching or not. The entire community at risk must be treated to stop an epidemic of scabies. In a family, all members should be treated at the same time, as well as others who are in close contact, such as close friends, and sometimes day care or school classmates. Scabies in institutions can be kept to manageable levels by routinely examining patients and conducting thorough skin exams of all new residents. The most successful, cost-effective approach is to treat all patients and health care personnel at the same time. Bedding and clothing must be washed or dry-cleaned.

DO NOT:

• Don't attempt to treat scabies with home products. Scrubbing with laundry detergent or hard soaps, or applying kerosene will only make the condition much worse.

• Don't use steroids or any other creams unless prescribed by a dermatologist.

• Don't repeat the treatment more than twice unless specifically instructed by a dermatologist.

Bibliography:

-cabinet for health services,."epidemiologic notes and reports."37.9(2002). Retrieved 13 may 2003 http://publichealth.state.ky.us/Newsletters-Calendars/Epi%20Notes/Epi-2002/Oct_02.pdf

-webmistress,."Facts about scabies" safe 2 use webring. 13 May. 2003 http://www.sare2use.com/pests/scabies/scabies.htm

-"Scabies" American Academy of Dermatology PUBLIC RESOURCES American Academy of Dermatology. 13 May. 2003 <http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/Scabies.html>

-"scabies" CDC- centers for disease control division of parasitic diseases. 13 May. 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/scabies/factsht_scabies.htm

-Hyde, MD, Patrice. "Scabies" Kids Health The Nemours Foundation. 18 May. 2003 <http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/scabies.html>

-"Scabies." The Marshall Cavendish Encyclopedia of Health. 1995 ed.

                 by: Helen Kim