Scabies - Causes and Symptoms

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by mites that bury themselves in the skin. Once they bury themselves in the host skin, they lay eggs, which cause irritation and extreme itchiness. Mites that bury themselves in the skin are able to survive for a month. Without a host, however, they can only live for up to three days. Scabies mites can be passed from person to person through close contact of the skin. Most often, scabies is passed on from people in crowded areas such as schools and day care centers.

Symptoms of scabies include severe itching, especially after sundown. In case people living in the same house show similar symptoms, you can be sure that you have scabies. The most commonly affected parts of the body are the webbing between the fingers and toes. The scabies infection may initially show up as small bumps or blisters that later develop into a pus filled rash, that breaks easily when scratched. The scabies infection also occurs in a crusted form, which is the most difficult to treat. In a crusted infection of scabies, the area of affected skin appears dry and scaly. When scabs of crust form, it contains millions of mites that spread from person to person with ease.

You can control and prevent scabies spread by practicing good hygiene. Showering and cleaning the skin daily will ensure that no foreign particle remains on the skin long enough to cause an infection. Because scabies mites breed in clothes and linen, clothing and linen must be changed frequently. You should wash them with strong detergents that remove all harmful germs. Washing all clothing and linen in hot water is another precautionary measure against the spread of the mite. Scabies is also known to pass through sexual contact. In the case of sexually active persons, it is advisable that both partners are checked for scabies. If you are sure that you have contracted scabies, it is imperative that you seek medical assistance immediately. A dermatologist will prescribe the lotions, ointments and medication that will help clear your body of the scabies mites. With medication, though, it is not necessary that the itching will stop with immediate effect. Sometimes, the itchiness can last for up to two weeks after treatment has begun. You must also remember that a person can be re-infected by the mite and in such cases; it is recommended that a second medical opinion be sought.