Scabies and its treatment | Listrik

Scabies is a contagious skin disease (caused by scabiei mites) transferred from one person to another. It’s usual to find it contracted by the whole family when a family member carries it home. The common symptom of the patients is itching, especially at night. If the whole family contract to scabies, there will be a scratching ritual. A patient may called it “playing guitar” to illustrate rhythmic scratching like playing the instrument.

Sarcoptes scabiei

Sarcoptes scabiei is white, tiny and oval transparent mite. Female mites size up to 0.3 to 0.4 mm, while the male only half of the females. Outside human skin, the mites can only survive for 2-3 days at room temperature and 40-80% humidity. Sarcoptes scabiei of hominis variant is the most found in our environment.

Breed and transmission

Male mites die once it fertilize the female species which then will reside in human’s underskin and lay eggs of about 40-50 eggs that hatch after about 3-5 days.The larvae grown into adult mites in 16-17 days (other literature says 10-14 days) and crawl outside the skin.

Transmission occurs through:

• Direct contact, sexual contact with patient.
• Indirectly by sharing chairs, bed linens or clothings.

Symptoms

The main complaint in patients with scabies (scabies) is:

• Itching, especially at night.
• Grayish white skin bulge of about 1 cm long.
• Sometimes accompanied by infection due to scratching.

The most commonly affected location are in between fingers, palms, wrists, elbows, armpits, breast area, around the belly button and lower abdomen, around the genitals and buttocks. While in infants and children can be on the face, it can also be found between the toes and soles of the feet. Scabies can even spread over the tip or the whole of male genitalia.

Diagnosis

Scabies diagnosis is commonly based on itching history, especially at night, and the contraction case of a family member or close friend (to indicate the transmission). Physical examination done by looking at the form of itchy skin bumps and distribution area. The diagnosis is confirmed by microscopic examination to scan for Sarcoptes scabiei mites or eggs.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at eliminating Sarcoptes scabiei mites and to reduce itching and complications that arise due to scratching. Antibiotics may be used if there is a secondary infection, such as pus in the affected area (between your fingers, genitals, etc.).

Prevention:

To prevent mites spread on others:

• Wash all clothing, bedding, towels, cloth with soap and hot water.
• Bathing regularly with soap.
• If one is exposed to scabies, check all family members who had contact with the carrier.
• If the whole family is infected, take simultaneous treatment to prevent re-infection.

Place things that you can not wash in a sealed plastic bag and let them sit for two weeks. The mites will die in a week without food.