Wednesday, November 16, 2011

What are the symptoms and treatments of Scabies

Scabies is a contagious skin disease which is caused by a tiny parasite (mite) called Sarcoptes scabiei var. Hominis. The mite buries under the skin and lays its eggs and reproduces instantly to cause intense itching and pimple like rashes. The female mites grow to 0.3 to 0.45 mm long and are larger and rapid than male mites. Scabies is highly contagious and spread from skin to skin contact for example-during sex. It also spreads in closed environments like nursing homes, extended care centers and prisons where it can find the human host to breed and survive.

The best way to avoid it is staying away from any kind of physical contact to the affected person. Transmission is normally direct, prolonged contact to the skin of the infected person. The most contagious among the scabies mites is Norwegian scabies.

Some of the symptoms of Scabies are:

A person suffering from scabies will likely to have irritated and itchy skin that will get worsen until the mites are killed.

Itching is the earlier symptom of scabies which is often noticeable during the night time or after bathing and sometimes is being mistaken for dry skin. Itching is caused due to allergic reaction to the scabies mites. At the later stage the itching is so intense especially among the children and the older ones.

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