Scabies is a condition characterized by the appearance of a very itchy feeling on the skin, especially at night, accompanied by a rash of spots resembling pimples or small scaly blisters. This condition is the result of the presence of mites that live and nest in the skin.
The number of mites found on the skin of people with scabies ranges from 10-15 tails, and can breed up to millions, and spread to other body parts, if not treated properly, mites.
Scabies is a disease that is easily transmitted, either by direct contact or not. Therefore, if you have felt the symptoms of scabies, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately.
Causes of Scabies
Scabies is caused by mites Sarcoptes scabiei. The mites make tunnel-like holes in the skin to make nests. They survive by becoming parasites on human skin, and will die within a few days without humans.
Mite transmission Sarcoptes scabiei occurs in 2 ways, namely:
- Direct contact, such as through hugging or having sex. Shaking hands has only a small potential for transmitting mites.
- Indirect, for example sharing the use of clothing or bedding with a person who has scabies.
The risk of infectious scabies is high in:
- Children, especially those living in dormitories.
- Sexually active adults.
- Someone who lives in a nursing home.
- A person who is being treated in a hospital.
- Someone who has a weak immune system, such as someone with HIV or cancer.
Symptoms of Scabies
Scabies is characterized by the appearance of intense itching, especially at night, accompanied by a rash of spots resembling pimples. The rash that appears can also be in the form of small, scaly blisters. In children and adults, these symptoms can appear in the area:
- Armpit
- Around the breast
- Nipples
- Elbow
- Wrist
- Between fingers and palms
- Waist
- Around gender
- Butt
- Knee
- Sole
While in infants, toddlers, and the elderly, symptoms can appear in the area:
- Head
- Face
- Neck
- Hand
- Sole
Scabies Diagnosis
The doctor will ask for a history of the appearance of symptoms, medical history, and factors suspected to have caused the patient to be infected with mites, as well as perform a physical examination.
After that, the doctor can continue the examination by conducting a series of tests to rule out other conditions that can also cause symptoms similar to scabies, such as drug allergies, eczema, and dermatitis. Some of the tests that doctors use to determine the patient's condition:
- Ink test. This examination is done by applying special ink to the problem areas of the skin. After the ink is applied, the skin will be washed with a cotton swab that has been given alcohol. If there is a nest of mites, the ink will remain on the skin and form small lines.
- Microscopic examination. The mites that cause scabies are not always visible to the naked eye. Therefore, this examination aims to detect mites in the body by scraping a small part of the problem area to be sampled. The sample will then be further examined in the laboratory.
Scabies Treatment
Treatment of scabies aims to eradicate the mites that cause it. The doctor will prescribe topical medication permethrin to kill mites and their eggs.
The use of the drug is carried out at night, by applying it to the part of the body that has scabies.
It is important to know that symptoms can get noticeably worse at the start of treatment. That is quite reasonable. Symptoms will begin to subside after one week of treatment, and resolve completely after 4 weeks of treatment.
Patients can perform simple treatments at home to reduce the itching caused by scabies. Among them:
- Soak in cold water, or apply a damp cloth to problem areas of the skin.
- Use calamine lotion. However, first consult about its use with a doctor.
Complications of Scabies
Some of the complications that can occur due to scabies, especially those that do not get proper treatment, are:
- Bacterial infection. Bacterial infection is the result of scabies that is continuously scratched, causing sores and making it easier for harmful bacteria to enter and attack the body.
- Norwegianscabies or crusted scabies. People who have scabies only have 10-15 mites on their bodies. Whereas in crusted scabies, the mites on the body can reach millions. This condition makes the skin hard, scaly, and scabies can spread to many other parts of the body. A person who has a weak immune system, suffers from a serious illness, or is being treated in a hospital has a high risk of developing this complication.
Scabies Prevention
The most effective way to prevent scabies is to keep yourself from being exposed to mites Sarcoptes scabiei, either through direct contact with the patient or indirectly.
As for sufferers, do the following to prevent scabies from infecting other people:
- Clean all clothing or personal items using soap and warm water. Then, dry in hot air.
- Wrap with plastic items that have the potential to be contaminated with mites, but cannot be washed. Then, put it in a place out of reach. The mites in the item will die in a few days.