Scabies is a contagious skin condition, characterized by intense itching an caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. According to MedlinePlus, scabies mites are found worldwide among people of all classes, races and ages. Initially, the infection may be hard to detect, but as the mites burrow into the skin, their paths leave a line that resembles a pencil mark. The site of infection is intensely itchy, causing those infected to scratch continually. Scabies is easily treated.
Appearance and Symptoms
After a person is infected, it can take two to six weeks for a sign of the rash to appear. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the rash first appears as tiny red bumps and little pimples. The itching is intense and often worse at night. If the pimples become infected, they may contain pus. Without treatment, the infection progresses and scratching continues; the rash can become scaly and crusted over. As the mites burrow further into the skin, irregular lines resembling red pencil marks appear on the skin.
Sites of Infection
According to MayoClinic.com, the tracks from the burrows typically appear in folds of the skin. In adults, the burrows are often found between the webs of the fingers; on the insides of the wrists and elbows; around the abdomen, breasts and male genitals; or on the soles of the feet, knees and shoulder blades. In children, the burrows may be found on the scalp, face, neck, palms and soles. In infants, their whole trunk may be affected. Symptoms are an allergic reaction to the mite and its eggs.
Transmission
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the adult female mites burrow into the epidermis, or upper layer of skin, to lay their eggs. The scabies mite is most often spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the infection. The infection can be spread before any rash-like symptoms appear. Nursing homes, prisons and day care centers are examples of places where the infection can quickly spread throughout the entire population. It's also possible to contract a scabies infection through sexual contact and contact with a severely infected person's bed linen.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is made through the characteristic appearance of the rash and taking a skin scraping to look for presence of the mite, its eggs or fecal matter under the microscope. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there a number of prescription medications are available to eradicate scabies. Either 5 percent permethrin cream or 1 percent lindane lotion can be applied at night from the neck down and left on for eight to 14 hours and then washed off. A second treatment one week later may be needed. Ivermectin, an oral medication, is also available. All bed linens, clothing and towels for the entire family should be washed in hot water.
Complications
MayoClinic.com says those who have a compromised immune system, such as elderly people and those with HIV, are at risk for developing Norwegian scabies, a severe type of crusted scabies. There are enormous numbers of mites present in the crusts, making the infection more virulent. The crusts can become secondarily infected with Staph, causing impetigo.
