Scabies causes redness of the skin and itching.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by a parasite called Sarcoptes scabiei . This mite develops tunnels under the skin, an action that causes redness and swelling of the skin, in addition to causing itching .
Scabies has humans as its host and is contagious : it is transmitted through direct contact or clothing. People can also get scabies when they are in contact with cats , dogs , or other animals that suffer from the condition .
Development of scabies
When these mites copulate, the male dies and the female penetrates the host's skin, creating the tunnels. While developing these tunnels, the female also lays two or three eggs a day, until she dies under the skin four to six weeks later. The hatching of the eggs causes the larvae to emerge and come to the surface: about fifteen days later, they become adults and develop the process again.
The person or animal that suffers from scabies exhibits skin with ulcers, blisters and pimples . Injuries caused by scratching due to itching are also common and can lead to different infections generated by microbes.
Dogs can get scabies and spread the condition to humans.
The treatment
The treatment of scabies consists of the application of a drug that is part of the scabicide group. These substances manage to eliminate mites, but it is also necessary to disinfect clothing and bedding since the parasites can survive in them for more than a day.
It is important to provide care to stray dogs and cats that are affected by mange not only to improve the quality of life of these animals, but also to prevent contagion to humans who come into contact with them.
Symptoms of scabies
Although scabies is very easy to acquire, it is also easy to eliminate it to return to normal life, as long as we follow certain recommendations to find the appropriate treatment for each case. First of all, we must recognize its signs:
- Very intense itching, usually at night.
- Appearance of small bumps that look like pimples or blisters, which appear in the form of a rash, either spread throughout the body or in certain parts, such as the armpit, wrist, genitals, waist and the area between the eyes. fingers.
- Small grayish lines that rise slightly between each bump.
It is important to pay attention to these signs , especially after having been around someone with scabies. Another fact to keep in mind is that there is a variety of scabies called Norwegian scabies, which presents the same symptoms but also includes thick light gray crusts on the skin, which can be easily removed.
How to act in the event of a possible infection
If we think we have scabies, then the next step is a medical visit, at least for people who do not completely trust home treatments, since they also exist and offer different degrees of effectiveness. Typically, the health professional simply evaluates the rash to make a diagnosis, although it is also possible to request a sample to detect the presence of mites and their eggs under a microscope.
During the visit to the doctor, pregnant women and those people who are experiencing any type of skin disease , whether serious or mild, should mention their condition, as it may affect the type of treatment indicated. For more severe itching, oral or topical steroids are usually prescribed; In the rest of the cases, oral antihistamines , such as diphenhydramine hydrochloride or hydroxyzine hydrochloride ( Benadryl and Atarax , respectively), can be very useful.