Scabies
Is It Possible to Prevent Scabies?Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Among young people, skin-to-skin transmission most often occurs during sexual contact, so scabies can be considered a form of sexually transmitted disease. However, other forms of close contact such as hugging may spread the disease. Casual contact such as shaking hands usually will not result in transmission of the mites. Top Searched Scabies Terms
symptoms, causes, rash, signs, treating, home treatment, Norwegian scabies, prevent, pictures of people with scabies
Scabies OverviewScabies is a very contagious skin condition that is caused by a mite that is so small it can only be seen with a magnifying glass or under a microscope. The mite cannot live more than three days without a human host, but it can survive up to a month when living on a human. The mite also lays eggs in human skin, which hatch and grow into adult mites. This means that symptoms of the condition can last for months or even years. The rash caused by bites from the scabies mite is extremely itchy and is sometimes called "the seven-year itch." The rash can be subtle, and sometimes scabies is hard to diagnose. The mite is spread from person to person by close contact. Animals can harbor a similar mite, but when the animal mite is passed to people, it cannot reproduce and dies within a few days. Scabies affect everyone regardless of age, gender, race, social class, or personal-hygiene habits. However, a major risk factor is being a household member or sexual partner of an affected individual. Scabies is also common in congested areas, such as nursing homes and hospitals, where it can spread widely. In people who have poor immune systems or who are malnourished, scabies can cause a syndrome called "crusted scabies" or "Norwegian scabies," which causes skin thickening and a scaly rash. Other conditions are sometimes confused with scabies. The scabies mite has no relation to body lice, although the treatment of the resulting skin disease is sometimes the same. Scabies is also different from bedbug bites. In contrast to scabies, bedbugs are visible to the naked eye and can live for long periods of time without feeding. Chiggers are a type of mite that can feed off human blood, but unlike scabies, they are acquired through contact with vegetation and feed for only a few days. Less commonly, the rashes of other skin diseases such as ringworm, shingles, eczema, allergic reactions (hives), or impetigo may be confused with that of scabies. Viewer Comments & ReviewsScabies - Symptoms and SignsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What symptoms and signs did you experience with your scabies? Scabies - Effective TreatmentsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What kinds of treatments have been effective for your scabies? |
Scabies occurs when mites of the species Sarcoptes scabiei burrow into the skin,
causing a troubling and relentless itching. The itching may persist for about
two weeks even if all of the mites are killed. If an individual is known to have
scabies and no previous skin-to-skin contact has occurred, prevention can
usually be accomplished by avoiding direct skin contact. It is also advisable to
avoid contact with bedding, clothing, and sometimes even furniture that has been
used by the infested person.
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Scabies
Allergic Reaction Overview
An allergic reaction is the body's way of responding to an "invader." When the body senses a foreign substance, called an antigen, the immune system is triggered. The immune system normally protects the body from harmful agents such as bacteria and toxins. Its overreaction to a harmless substance (an allergen) is called a hypersensitivity reaction, or an allergic reaction.
- Anything can be an allergen. Dust, pollen, plants, medications, (such as ibuprofen, sulfa drugs like sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim [Bactrim], codeine, amoxicillin [Amoxil, Amoxil Pediatric Drops, Moxatag, Trimox]), foods (common food allergies include shrimp and other shellfish, peanuts), insect bites (such as from mosquitos or bees), animal dander, viruses, or bacteria are examples of allergens.
- Reactions may occur in one spot, such as a small localized skin rash, itchy eyes, face bumps, or all over, as in a whole body rash such as ...
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Scabies »
Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by the host-specific mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis.
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