Scabies

If you thought chicken pox was bad, the uncontrollably urge to scratch, especially during the night is one of the unfortunate symptoms associated with the itchy skin condition called scabies. A high degree of discomfort is brought about when the rather small burrowing mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei settles on the skin, creating an intense reaction wherever it chooses to hide. The worst part – scabies is contagious and quickly spreads through close physical contact.

Symptoms

One of the most prominent signs and symptoms dealing with scabies include the itching that often becomes worse during the night. Thin marks consisting of many tiny blisters or bumps form. Typically, the line-like marks are seen within the folds of the skin. While almost every part of the body is not safe from the infestation of scabies, the most common body parts include: the armpits, between fingers, around the waist, along the insides of the wrist, soles of the feet, on the inner elbow, around the male genitals, on the buttocks, on the knees, around the breasts, and on the shoulder blades.

Typically, small children and the elderly have the most difficult time dealing with scabies, as they tend to experience the worst bouts of itching. An individual suffering from their first scabies infestation may not encounter itching or skin sores for a couple of weeks. The symptoms associated with a re-infestation of scabies usually surface within a few days.

Causes of Scabies

A microscopic mite causes the type of scabies that develops in humans. Without the help of a magnifying glass, sighting these pests is impossible. It is the female mite that burrows into the skin and creates a tunnel where she may lay eggs, which take 21 days to mature. After the eggs hatch, the mites continue to spread about the surface of the skin, where people respond to their presence, additional eggs, and waste through allergic reactions. Close physical contact helps spread scabies from one person to another. Sharing clothes and bedding with an infected person is also another way scabies is contracted.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of scabies comes when a doctor takes a look at the skin and scans for signs of mites. He or she will seatch for the characteristic burrows that come with the condition. If a mite burrow is found, the doctor may scrape the region for further analysis under a microscope. This type of examination will alert a patient as to whether or not they are plagued with the presence of mites or their eggs.

Risk Factors

While scabies is a common skin condition that affects people of all shapes, sizes, and social classes, there are some environmental factors that increase the risk of development. For starters, the spread of scabies quickly passes from one to another in crowded conditions where skin-to-skin contact is frequent.

People working at hospitals, child-care centers, and nursing homes become prime candidates. In a household, family members and sex partners easily contract scabies from one another. Although pets are known to contract a mite infection known as mange, humans cannot become infected with scabies from their companions.