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Scabies, also known as human scabies, is a skin disease caused by the miteSarcoptes scabiei which is easily transmitted from person to person, through physical contact, and rarely through clothing or other shared objects, and which leads to the appearance of red blisters and patches on the skin that itch a lot, especially at night.
Scabies is curable as long as the treatment is done according to the dermatologist's guidance, which usually indicates the use of soaps and ointments suitable for the elimination of eggs from this mite, in addition to cleaning the environment to eliminate possible eggs that have been deposited in the house.
Main symptoms
The main characteristic of scabies is the intense itching that increases at night, however, there are other signs to watch out for. So, if you think you may have scabies, check which of the symptoms you are feeling:
- 1. Itchy skin that gets worse at night No Yes
- 2. Small blisters on the skin, especially in the folds No Yes
- 3. Red plaques on the skin No Yes
- 4. Lines near bubbles that look like paths or tunnels No Yes
The female mite responsible for scabies penetrates and excavates the skin, leading to the formation of wavy lines up to 1.5 cm long, which sometimes have a small crust on one end, due to the act of scratching the skin. It is in the place where excavation is taking place that the mite lays its eggs and releases saliva, which causes skin irritation and leads to the appearance of signs and symptoms.
The most preferred places for these mites are the fingers and toes, the wrists, the elbows, the armpits, around the women's nipples, the penis and the scrotum, along the waist line and over the bottom of the buttocks. In babies, scabies can appear on the face, which rarely happens in adults, and the lesions can look like water-filled blisters.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of scabies is made by the general practitioner or dermatologist by observing the signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to being able to perform parasitological examination to identify the causative agent of scabies.
Thus, the doctor can scrape the lesion or test the tape and the collected material is sent to the laboratory to be processed and analyzed under a microscope.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for scabies involves the use of soaps or ointments that contain substances capable of eliminating the mite and its eggs, such as benzyl benzoate, deltamethrin, thiabendazole or tetraethylthiuran monosulfide. The soap or ointment should be used according to the doctor's guidance, and its use is usually recommended for about 3 days.
Oral ivermectin can also be used to treat scabies, being recommended when there are several cases of scabies in the family at the same time.
Normal cleaning of clothes is sufficient to eliminate the mite, but family members and individuals who have had close contact with an infected person should also be treated.
See also how to prepare a home remedy for human scabies.