General Information About Scabies Skin Condition
Scabies is a skin condition determined by a microscopic parasitic mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. This condition shows symptoms like blisters, bumps or nodules and signs like itch, rash, inflammation and small burrows on the superficial layers of the skin. This condition is highly contagious and can be encountered by anyone regardless the age or gender.
Scabies represents the infestation of the human skin with the tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. After the infestation of the body, the mites seek shelter in hidden areas of the body like between the fingers and toes or under the nails, in the genital area, on the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles and the females start depositing eggs in deep burrows of the skin. The incubation period is not long for the scabies mites and after they hatch, the larvae thus created will climb up to the superficial layers of the skin where they will develop and mature. After the larvae reach maturity, they breakout to the surface of the skin and begin reproducing themselves.
The parasitic mites that cause the affliction of scabies can be very easily spread through close physical contact, thus making the affliction highly contagious. Although it doesn't concern about age or gender, this condition is widely spread among children and old people because this categories of people attend to crowded environments or have low mobility. In some cases, a proper personal hygiene may delay the symptoms of scabies but it cannot prevent or eradicate the mites.
This condition shows symptoms like irritation, inflammation, itch, rash, pustules, nodules and blister. The itching sensation can in some cases be very intense and it usually worsens during the night. Scratching it is not recommended because it can harm the skin and lead to other infections that can complicate. The preferred areas of the body are those less exposed where the mites can hide: between the fingers and toes, under the nails, elbows, armpits, chest, lower abdomen, pubic area, buttocks, knees and ankles. The human skin produces allergic reactions to the secretions of the mites, their feces, saliva and eggs, which are toxic. The areas affected by the scabies mites are also exposed to other bacterial or fungal infections like impetigo, which is a very difficult to treat skin disorder.
The symptoms of the scabies are not specific to this disease; they are similar to those of other afflictions, making it harder for the doctors to establish an accurate diagnosis based on physical examination. This condition can however be easily diagnosed after a microscopic examination of a skin sample from an affected area of the body. A person that suspects signs or symptoms of scabies should immediately consult a doctor for a thorough examination and accurate diagnosis followed, if necessary, by an appropriate treatment.
Scabies can be treated using medicines that usually consist of creams, gels or ointments which are applied locally on the entire surface of the skin. The medicine has to remain on the skin for 8-12 hours after which it is washed away and reapplied. The mites' eradication should be completed within one week or ten days at most and the remaining symptoms should heal in time. It is important to know that this condition can lead to serious complications or to other bacterial or fungal infections at the skin level, if left untreated.