Scabies

Scabies Contagious skin disease

Scabies – A contagious parasitic skin disease characterized by extreme itching.

 

  • Caused by: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis (mites)
  • Mites mate on the surface of the skin, males die quickly
  • Without a host (human), ticks survive in the environment for 3-4 days.
  • Spread by direct contact with a sick person or through infected objects
  • The disease manifests itself in 1-8 weeks from the day of infection

Risk factors:

  • poor diet
  • weakened immune system
  • bad hygiene
  • old age
Scabies Interfingers
Scabies child
Scabies
Scabies

Clinical Signs

  • Characterized by severe skin itching (especially at night), which may persist even for several weeks after the end of treatment
  • Rashes:
      • characteristic at the beginning of the disease elongated paired scaly papules (palpable bumps on the skin), also known as tick tracks
      • localization of rashes: interfingers, palms, wrists, elbows, nipples, navel
      • after 2 weeks from the onset of symptoms, as a hypersensitivity reaction of the body, generalized rashes (spread over most of the body) may occur
      • then the face and scalp are usually not affected
      • characteristic erythematous (reddish) papules on the skin of the trunk and limbs
      • sometimes diffuse nummular (coin) dermatitis may occur, which is characterized by coin-shaped, very itchy rashes with plaques (larger than papules, palpable bumps on the skin)
      • blisters on the palms and soles are also common
      • papules, nodules in the groin, genital area

Diagnostics

It is usually enough to establish a diagnosis:

  • anamnesis
  • clinical signs

If there are insufficient data from the anamnesis and the clinic, then the following can be performed:

 

  • dermatoscopy
  • microscopy

Treatment

During the consultation, an individual treatment is selected for each patient, the aim of which is to eradicate the parasites that cause the above-mentioned symptoms. Ointments for the skin of the whole body (permethrin, benzoyl benzoate) or systemic treatment with oral drugs can be chosen for treatment.

Prevention and disinfection

Prevention:

  • the patient must avoid contact with people for 24 hours after using medication
  • all patients of the same focus should be treated simultaneously
  • screening of family members, team, workplace and sexual partners is required
  • the patient must use personal hygiene measures, sleep separately from other family members

Disinfection:

  • patient’s clothes and bedding, used for 4 days before treatment must be washed in >60º C water or boiled in 1-2%. in a soda solution or with detergents for at least 10 minutes.
  • clothes that cannot be washed are ironed on both sides with steam or placed in plastic bags and stored for 4 days
  • coats, fur and leather products are stored outside for 5 days (during the cold season, 1 day at sub-zero temperatures)
If you are unsure about your diagnosis and over-the-counter remedies from the pharmacy don’t help – seek help from a dermatologist!
iDerma team will provide a consultation within 24 hours, explain your diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment remotely!
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iDerma

MB iDerma
Fabijoniškių g. 99, Vilnius
+370 671 33323
info@iderma.lt

iDerma

MB iDerma
Fabijoniškės g. 99, Vilnius
+370 670 70822
info@iderma.lt