Scabies is a parasitic infection that can cause
intense itching. It is sometimes passed on during sexual intercourse but can be transferred by any skin-to-skin contact. It can affect anyone but is most common in children and young adults.
What causes it?
Scabies is an allergic reaction to the parasitic
mite Sarcoptes scabiei . The mite - an eight-legged insect just 3
mm to 4mm in diameter -
burrows into the skin and lays its
eggs. These eggs then hatch and the mites grow. The skin becomes sensitive to their faeces, causing intense itching.
The mite is transferred by skin-to-skin contact. Holding hands is enough for scabies to spread. It can also be spread during sexual intercourse.
What causes it?
Scabies is an allergic reaction to the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei . The mite - an eight-legged insect just 3mm to 4mm in diameter - burrows into the skin and lays its eggs. These eggs then hatch and the mites grow. The skin becomes sensitive to their faeces, causing intense itching.
The mite is transferred by skin-to-skin contact. Holding hands is enough for scabies to spread. It can also be spread during sexual intercourse.
The most common symptom is intense itching, which is often worse at night. This is a reaction either to the mite''s faeces or saliva. This sensitisation can take up to six weeks to develop, so a scabies infestation may go unnoticed at first.
A red rash or tiny red spots may also appear, most often in warm and moist skin creases. The scabies mite prefers certain parts of the body - in almost every affected person, scabies can be found in the webs between the fingers and in the flexor surface (underneath surface) of the wrist. The armpits, between the buttocks and around the genitalia are also common sites, while in babies the palms and soles may show burrows.
The burrows may be seen as fine grey thread-like lines, but may be more easily felt like a thickened cord below the skin surface. Because scabies is so itchy, scratching leads to sores that may become inflamed or scab over.
Itching may persist for up to three weeks following treatment.
Who''s affected?
Scabies affects people of any age but is most common in children and young adults.
Anyone can catch it - it isn''t a sign of inadequate personal hygiene. Because it''s very infectious, several members of a family are often affected at one time.
What''s the treatment?
Scabies is treated using one of several anti-parasitic drugs, in a lotion that''s applied to the whole body below the neck (and to the head in children under two). The lotion must be kept on for 24 hours. Anti-itching medication may be prescribed too.
You should avoid physical contact with someone who has scabies until they''ve been treated to prevent infection. If you''ve been in physical contact with someone with scabies, you should be treated too.
More abstracts about the Scabies