Scabies is highly contagious and is spread by close contact. If untreated, it can last indefinitely. Scabies is not caused by poor hygiene.
Anyone can get scabies. It's not a disease caused by poor hygiene. Some people are more likely to get scabies, including: People who live in close, crowded conditions.
Scabies spreads through contact, not because of a lack of personal hygiene. But doctors say it can be difficult to inform people they have mites because of the stigma associated with them. “I think a common misconception is that only people who are filthy or dirty get scabies,” says Robin P.
Parasites - Scabies
Human scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash.
What causes scabies? Scabies is caused by a tiny mite called 'Sarcoptes scabiei'. The mites burrow under the skin to lay eggs. The newly hatched mites are spread over the body by scratching.
It may well be a rabbit/rabbit model. The original source of the scabies mites used to experimentally infect the rabbits was roaming dogs.
Some immunocompromised, elderly, disabled, or debilitated persons are at risk for a severe form of scabies called crusted, or Norwegian, scabies. Persons with crusted scabies have thick crusts of skin that contain large numbers of scabies mites and eggs.
Scabies can be classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), because it can be spread through sexual contact.
Scabies usually is passed by direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infested person. However, a person with crusted (Norwegian) scabies can spread the infestation by brief skin-to-skin contact or by exposure to bedding, clothing, or even furniture that he/she has used.
You also can't usually get scabies from toilet seats. Most of the time, it takes lots of close, personal contact with an infected person for scabies to spread. Next What are the symptoms of scabies?
This is a photomicrograph of a skin scraping that contains a scabies mite, eggs, and feces. This animal burrows into the skin, depositing both eggs and feces. A scabies infestation causes intense itching (pruritus) which leads to scratching and damage of the skin (excoriation).
Scabies is spread by prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. Scabies sometimes also can be spread by contact with items such as clothing, bedding, or towels that have been used by a person with scabies, but such spread is very uncommon unless the infested person has crusted scabies.
Even the cleanest people get scabies. Washing in soap and water or swimming in the sea will not prevent or cure it. How do you catch it? - by sharing clothes and bedding.
Scabies is a tiny mite that can live in the skin of humans and cause an itchy rash, but these parasites can't survive on a nonhuman host. Even though these mites will die in days on things like mattresses, they can reattach to human hosts and cause reinfection if they aren't fully eradicated.
Scabies is a risk factor for bacterial skin infections and as a result of these secondary infections, individuals with scabies are also at risk of kidney disease and possibly rheumatic heart disease.
Permethrin kills the scabies mite and eggs. Permethrin is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies. Two (or more) applications, each about a week apart, may be necessary to eliminate all mites. Children aged 2 months or older can be treated with permethrin.
Key points about scabies
Scabies mites are very contagious. They often spread from person to person while they are sleeping in the same bed, or during other close contact. Scabies should be treated quickly to keep the mites from spreading.
Wash all clothes, bedding, and towels that you used in the 4 to 5 days before you started treatment. Use hot water, and use the hot cycle in the dryer. Another option is to dry-clean these items. Or seal them in a plastic bag for 3 days.
The day you start treatment, wash your clothes, bedding, towels, and washcloths. Mites can survive for a few days without human skin. If a mite survives, you can get scabies again. To prevent this, you must wash clothes, sheets, comforters, blankets, towels, and other items.
Most people can be cured with a medicine that they apply to their skin. These medicines are often applied to all skin from the neck down. Infants and young children often need treatment for their scalp and face, too. A dermatologist will provide specific instructions to follow.
Scabies is a common disease and typically described as a skin condition with sparing of face and scalp in adults. However, crusted scabies is not conventional scabies. It can also affect the scalp.
When a person is infested with scabies mites the first time, symptoms usually do not appear for up to two months (2-6 weeks) after being infested; however, an infested person still can spread scabies during this time even though he/she does not have symptoms.