Scabies in Humans

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disorder caused by a mite that burrows into the skin and produces an intense, itchy rash. Scabies mites live on human blood and need the warmth of the human body to survive. Scabies affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds worldwide. Anyone can get scabies.

Causes

• Scabies are caused by mites, also known as Sarcoptes scabiei. The warmth of the human body will attract scabies mites. The female mite will then burrow underneath the skin, where she will lay eggs and leave feces. Sometimes you can see the small threadlike tunnel that the female mite creates underneath your skin. Scabies can spread from person to person, mainly from direct skin contact. Scabies can also be spread by sharing clothing, bed linens or other personal belongings with someone who has scabies.

Symptoms

• Scabies causes severe itching, which usually is worse at night. Another symptom of scabies is a skin rash. This typically shows up on your skin as a line or band of blisters or little red bumps. Scabies symptoms commonly appear on adults between the fingers, on the wrists or elbows, on the penis of men, around the nipples on women, and on the buttocks or waistline.

Diagnosis

• Scabies can be diagnosed by your doctor. Some doctors can look at your rash and determine if it is a scabies rash. Sometimes there are occasions that involve further testing for scabies to be properly diagnosed. Some doctors may collect skin scrapings, which involves pouring a little mineral oil on the infected area of the skin. Then the doctor will scrape off a sample with a scalpel. Another test that doctors use is an ink test or ink burrow test. Your doctor will take a felt-tip pen and stroke it across the itchy area. The residual ink on your skin will be wiped off using an alcohol pad or plain water. If a burrow is present, it will absorb the ink and will appear as a dark line.

Treatment

• The good news is that scabies can be treated. Treatment for scabies means killing the mites and their eggs. Scabies can be treated by using prescription medication prescribed by your doctor. If you have signs or symptoms of being infected with scabies, seek medical attention for treatment. There is no over-the-counter medicine that will cure scabies. However, you can purchase over-the-counter medicine like hydrocortisone cream and/or Benadryl to relieve itching.

Prevention

• The only way to prevent scabies is to avoid contact with a person who is infected. This also means avoiding the sharing of clothing, bedding and personal belongings. Family and household members who have come in direct skin contact with someone infected with scabies should be treated, whether they show symptoms or not. It can take two to six weeks before a newly infected person will notice any itching or rash. People who have already had scabies and are re-exposed might show symptoms in one to four days.