What are the main symptoms of scabies. How is scabies transmitted between individuals. What are the most effective treatment options for scabies. Who is at higher risk for developing severe forms of scabies.

Understanding Scabies: A Highly Contagious Skin Condition

Scabies is a dermatologic condition caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. This eight-legged parasite burrows into the skin, causing intense itching and a distinctive rash. Despite its small size, the scabies mite can have a significant impact on those affected, leading to discomfort and potential complications if left untreated.

The prevalence of scabies is staggering, with an estimated 300 million cases worldwide each year, including approximately 1 million in the United States alone. This widespread occurrence underscores the importance of understanding the condition, its symptoms, and available treatment options.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Scabies

Identifying scabies early is crucial for prompt treatment and preventing its spread. The primary symptoms include:

• Intense itching, often worsening at night
• A rash consisting of small red bumps and blisters
• Burrow tracks or lines in the skin, resembling hives or pimples
• Sores from scratching, which can lead to secondary infections

In severe cases, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems, a condition known as crusted scabies or Norwegian scabies can develop. This form is characterized by thick, gray, crumbling crusts on the skin that harbor thousands of mites.

Where Does Scabies Typically Appear?

The location of scabies infestation can vary depending on age. In adults and older children, common sites include:

• Between the fingers and around fingernails
• Armpits and waistline
• Inner parts of the wrists and elbows
• Soles of the feet
• Breasts, particularly around the nipples
• Male genitalia and buttocks
• Knees and shoulder blades

Infants and young children may experience more widespread infestation, including the scalp, face, neck, palms, and soles of the feet.

The Transmission and Spread of Scabies

Scabies is highly contagious and spreads easily through close physical contact. This makes outbreaks common in settings such as:

• Family homes
• Child care facilities
• Schools
• Nursing homes
• Prisons

It’s important to note that scabies can affect individuals of all ages, socioeconomic statuses, and living situations. The mites responsible for scabies can survive without a human host for 48 to 72 hours, contributing to their ability to spread through shared bedding, clothing, and furniture.

How Quickly Do Symptoms Appear After Exposure?

The onset of scabies symptoms varies depending on previous exposure:

• First-time exposure: Symptoms may take 2 to 6 weeks to develop
• Subsequent infestations: Symptoms can appear within 1 to 4 days due to a quicker immune response

Effective Treatment Strategies for Scabies

Treating scabies promptly is essential to alleviate symptoms and prevent spread. The most common treatments include:

1. Topical medications:
   • 5% permethrin cream
   • Crotamiton cream
   • Lindane lotion
   • 25% benzyl benzoate lotion
   • 10% sulfur ointment
2. Oral medication:
   • Ivermectin (for immunocompromised individuals or those with crusted scabies)

Most topical treatments are applied at night and washed off in the morning. It’s crucial to note that anyone who has had close contact with an infected individual should also be treated, even if they’re not showing symptoms.

Are There Any Restrictions on Scabies Treatments?

While most treatments are safe for general use, there are some restrictions:

• Ivermectin should not be used during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or by children weighing less than 33 pounds
• Some individuals may require additional medications such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions, antibiotics, or steroids to manage symptoms and complications

Preventing the Spread of Scabies

Preventing scabies outbreaks requires vigilance and prompt action. Key prevention strategies include:

• Avoiding close physical contact with infected individuals
• Washing bedding, clothing, and towels used by infected persons in hot water
• Sealing items that can’t be washed in plastic bags for at least 72 hours
• Vacuuming carpets and upholstered furniture
• Treating all close contacts simultaneously to prevent reinfestation

How Long Does It Take to Eliminate Scabies?

With proper treatment, scabies can typically be eliminated within 2 to 4 weeks. However, itching may persist for several weeks after successful treatment due to the body’s ongoing immune response to the mites and their waste products.

Complications and Special Considerations in Scabies Management

While scabies is generally treatable, certain complications can arise, particularly in severe cases or when treatment is delayed:

• Secondary bacterial infections, such as impetigo
• Crusted scabies in immunocompromised individuals
• Persistent itching and skin irritation
• Psychological distress due to the stigma associated with the condition

Who Is at Higher Risk for Developing Crusted Scabies?

Crusted scabies, a severe form of the condition, is more likely to affect:

• Immunocompromised individuals
• The elderly
• Those living in institutional settings

These groups may require more intensive treatment and monitoring to manage their condition effectively.

The Impact of Scabies on Quality of Life

Scabies can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life, leading to:

• Sleep disturbances due to intense itching
• Social isolation and embarrassment
• Difficulty concentrating at work or school
• Stress and anxiety related to the fear of spreading the condition

Addressing these psychosocial aspects is crucial in the comprehensive management of scabies. Healthcare providers should offer support and reassurance to patients throughout their treatment journey.

How Can the Psychological Impact of Scabies Be Mitigated?

To help patients cope with the psychological effects of scabies, consider the following approaches:

• Providing clear, accurate information about the condition and its treatment
• Offering counseling or support groups for affected individuals
• Addressing any misconceptions or stigma associated with scabies
• Encouraging open communication with family members and close contacts

Advances in Scabies Research and Future Treatment Options

Ongoing research into scabies aims to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. Some areas of focus include:

• Development of more effective and convenient treatments
• Improved diagnostic tools for early detection
• Strategies for managing drug resistance in scabies mites
• Community-based interventions to reduce scabies prevalence in endemic areas

What Promising New Treatments Are on the Horizon?

While current treatments are effective, researchers are exploring new options such as:

• Novel topical formulations with improved efficacy and safety profiles
• Oral medications that may offer more convenient dosing regimens
• Immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance the body’s natural defenses against scabies mites

These advancements hold promise for improving scabies management and reducing its global burden.

The Role of Public Health Initiatives in Combating Scabies

Public health initiatives play a crucial role in controlling scabies outbreaks and reducing its prevalence. Key strategies include:

• Education and awareness campaigns to improve recognition and early reporting of cases
• Implementation of screening programs in high-risk settings
• Coordination of treatment efforts to ensure simultaneous treatment of affected individuals and their contacts
• Development of guidelines for scabies management in various settings, including healthcare facilities and schools

How Can Communities Contribute to Scabies Prevention?

Community involvement is essential for effective scabies control. Individuals and organizations can contribute by:

• Participating in educational programs about scabies prevention and treatment
• Reporting suspected cases to appropriate health authorities
• Supporting those affected by scabies and reducing stigma associated with the condition
• Advocating for improved access to healthcare and treatment options in underserved areas

By working together, communities can significantly reduce the burden of scabies and improve overall public health.

Scabies: Images, symptoms, and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Scabies is one of several skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes. It is a dermatologic condition caused by sarcoptes scabiei, an eight-legged microscopic mite.

Scabies is contagious and can spread very easily from person to person through close physical contact. This makes an outbreak likely in settings such as the family home, child care group, school class, nursing home, or prison.

However, it can affect people of all ages, whatever their living situation and socioeconomic status. If an individual has scabies, they and anyone they have close contact with must all be treated at the same time.

Fast facts on scabies

• While the scabies mite needs skin to feed and survive, it can live without a human host for 48 to 72 hours.
• The rash and itching experienced by those with scabies is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.
• The average person infested with scabies will have 15 to 20 mites present.
• Those at highest risk of developing crusted scabies include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those housed in institutional settings.

Share on PinterestScabies produces an itchy skin rash consisting of small red bumps and blisters.

Each year, scabies affects millions of people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic status.

It is highly contagious, being easily spread through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture infested with mites.

Scabies is estimated to infect over 300 million humans worldwide each year, including 1 million people in the United States.

Scabies most frequently occurs in children and young adults, with outbreaks in child care facilities and schools common.

The onset of symptoms of scabies varies depending on whether or not a person has previously been exposed to mites. The first time a person is exposed to the scabies mite, it can take upwards of 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to develop.

This timeframe is significantly shorter in subsequent infestations as the body’s immune system is quicker to react, typically within 1 to 4 days.

Signs and symptoms of scabies include:

• Itching: This is often worse at night and can be severe and intense. Itching is one of the most common scabies symptoms.
• Rash: When the mite burrows into the skin, it forms burrow tracks, or lines, which are most commonly found in skin folds, and resemble hives, bites, knots, pimples, or patches of scaly skin. Blisters may also be present.
• Sores: These occur in infested areas where a person has scratched at the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, commonly caused by secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Thick crusts: Crusted scabies, also known as Norwegian scabies, is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mite eggs are harbored within skin crusts, causing severe skin symptoms.

Most often, those affected with crusted scabies exhibit widespread, gray, thick, crumbling crusts.

Mites living in the detached crusts can live for upwards of a week without needing human contact due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

The most common site of infestation in adults and older children include:

• in between the fingers
• around fingernails
• armpits
• waistline
• inner parts of the wrists
• inner elbow
• soles of the feet
• the breasts, particularly the areas around the nipples
• male genitalia
• buttocks
• knees
• shoulder blades

Infants and young children experience infestation in other areas of the body, including the:

• scalp
• face
• neck
• palms of the hands
• soles of the feet

At times, children can present with a widespread infestation, covering a majority of the body. Infants who are infested with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability, and sleeping and eating difficulties.

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone living with a patient diagnosed with the condition, or who has had close contact with the patient, will most likely be recommended to receive treatment for scabies even if they do not have any symptoms. This includes any person with whom the patient has had recent intimate contact.

Scabies is generally treated with topical medications such as 5 percent permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion or 10 percent sulfur ointment may be used. Most topical preparations are applied at night and washed off in the morning.

Ivermectin, an oral medication, may be recommended for people who are immunocompromised, those with crusted scabies, or those who did not respond to topical therapy.

Ivermectin should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding nor by children weighing less than 33 pounds.

Other medications, such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions like Pramoxine lotion, antibiotics, and steroid creams might be prescribed to offer relief from symptoms.

Treatment with prescribed medications will generally kill mites quickly. The itching and rash may initially become worse.

However, skin healing should be seen by 4 weeks after treatment. Some people require more than one course of treatment to fully rid themselves of mites.

If you want to buy permethrin cream, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

Tests and diagnosis

Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for dermatitis or eczema as these skin conditions also cause itching and bumps on the skin. Anyone who is unsure about the cause of a skin condition should consult their physician as OTC remedies cannot eradicate scabies.

A doctor can diagnose scabies by examining the skin or by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

Scabies is an infestation of the sarcoptes scabiei mite, also known as the human itch mite.

After burrowing under the skin, the female mite lays its eggs in the tunnel it has created. Once hatched, the larvae move to the surface of the skin and spread across the body or to another host through close physical contact.

Humans are not the only species affected by mites. Dogs and cats can also be infected. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with non-human animal mites, a full-blown human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly contagious and spread via direct skin-to-skin contact or by using a towel, bedding, or furniture infested with the mites. As such, some of the most likely people to become infested with mites include:

• children attending day care or school
• parents of young children
• sexually active young adults and people with multiple sexual partners
• residents of extended care facilities
• older adults
• people who are immunocompromised, including those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and others on immunosuppressant medications

Home solutions for scabies are often not recommended.

Some infestations can resolve without treatment. However, it is mainly the preventive steps listed below that people with scabies can carry out without visiting a doctor.

However, herbal treatments, such as tea tree and neem oils, have not consistently been shown to treat scabies. It is therefore advisable to visit a doctor and ask for a prescription.

To prevent re-infestation and spread, take the following steps:

• Wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, linens, etc. When washing, use hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Place items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for one to several weeks to starve the mites.
• Vacuum the entire home on the day treatment is initiated, including carpets, rugs, upholstery, etc. , and discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

If you have a concern that you may have, or may be at risk for, contracting scabies, speak with a doctor.

Read the article in Spanish.

Scabies: Images, symptoms, and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Scabies is one of several skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes. It is a dermatologic condition caused by sarcoptes scabiei, an eight-legged microscopic mite.

Scabies is contagious and can spread very easily from person to person through close physical contact. This makes an outbreak likely in settings such as the family home, child care group, school class, nursing home, or prison.

However, it can affect people of all ages, whatever their living situation and socioeconomic status. If an individual has scabies, they and anyone they have close contact with must all be treated at the same time.

Fast facts on scabies

• While the scabies mite needs skin to feed and survive, it can live without a human host for 48 to 72 hours.
• The rash and itching experienced by those with scabies is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.
• The average person infested with scabies will have 15 to 20 mites present.
• Those at highest risk of developing crusted scabies include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those housed in institutional settings.

Share on PinterestScabies produces an itchy skin rash consisting of small red bumps and blisters.

Each year, scabies affects millions of people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic status.

It is highly contagious, being easily spread through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture infested with mites.

Scabies is estimated to infect over 300 million humans worldwide each year, including 1 million people in the United States.

Scabies most frequently occurs in children and young adults, with outbreaks in child care facilities and schools common.

The onset of symptoms of scabies varies depending on whether or not a person has previously been exposed to mites. The first time a person is exposed to the scabies mite, it can take upwards of 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to develop.

This timeframe is significantly shorter in subsequent infestations as the body’s immune system is quicker to react, typically within 1 to 4 days.

Signs and symptoms of scabies include:

• Itching: This is often worse at night and can be severe and intense. Itching is one of the most common scabies symptoms.
• Rash: When the mite burrows into the skin, it forms burrow tracks, or lines, which are most commonly found in skin folds, and resemble hives, bites, knots, pimples, or patches of scaly skin. Blisters may also be present.
• Sores: These occur in infested areas where a person has scratched at the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, commonly caused by secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Thick crusts: Crusted scabies, also known as Norwegian scabies, is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mite eggs are harbored within skin crusts, causing severe skin symptoms.

Most often, those affected with crusted scabies exhibit widespread, gray, thick, crumbling crusts.

Mites living in the detached crusts can live for upwards of a week without needing human contact due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

The most common site of infestation in adults and older children include:

• in between the fingers
• around fingernails
• armpits
• waistline
• inner parts of the wrists
• inner elbow
• soles of the feet
• the breasts, particularly the areas around the nipples
• male genitalia
• buttocks
• knees
• shoulder blades

Infants and young children experience infestation in other areas of the body, including the:

• scalp
• face
• neck
• palms of the hands
• soles of the feet

At times, children can present with a widespread infestation, covering a majority of the body. Infants who are infested with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability, and sleeping and eating difficulties.

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone living with a patient diagnosed with the condition, or who has had close contact with the patient, will most likely be recommended to receive treatment for scabies even if they do not have any symptoms. This includes any person with whom the patient has had recent intimate contact.

Scabies is generally treated with topical medications such as 5 percent permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion or 10 percent sulfur ointment may be used. Most topical preparations are applied at night and washed off in the morning.

Ivermectin, an oral medication, may be recommended for people who are immunocompromised, those with crusted scabies, or those who did not respond to topical therapy.

Ivermectin should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding nor by children weighing less than 33 pounds.

Other medications, such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions like Pramoxine lotion, antibiotics, and steroid creams might be prescribed to offer relief from symptoms.

Treatment with prescribed medications will generally kill mites quickly. The itching and rash may initially become worse.

However, skin healing should be seen by 4 weeks after treatment. Some people require more than one course of treatment to fully rid themselves of mites.

If you want to buy permethrin cream, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

Tests and diagnosis

Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for dermatitis or eczema as these skin conditions also cause itching and bumps on the skin. Anyone who is unsure about the cause of a skin condition should consult their physician as OTC remedies cannot eradicate scabies.

A doctor can diagnose scabies by examining the skin or by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

Scabies is an infestation of the sarcoptes scabiei mite, also known as the human itch mite.

After burrowing under the skin, the female mite lays its eggs in the tunnel it has created. Once hatched, the larvae move to the surface of the skin and spread across the body or to another host through close physical contact.

Humans are not the only species affected by mites. Dogs and cats can also be infected. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with non-human animal mites, a full-blown human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly contagious and spread via direct skin-to-skin contact or by using a towel, bedding, or furniture infested with the mites. As such, some of the most likely people to become infested with mites include:

• children attending day care or school
• parents of young children
• sexually active young adults and people with multiple sexual partners
• residents of extended care facilities
• older adults
• people who are immunocompromised, including those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and others on immunosuppressant medications

Home solutions for scabies are often not recommended.

Some infestations can resolve without treatment. However, it is mainly the preventive steps listed below that people with scabies can carry out without visiting a doctor.

However, herbal treatments, such as tea tree and neem oils, have not consistently been shown to treat scabies. It is therefore advisable to visit a doctor and ask for a prescription.

To prevent re-infestation and spread, take the following steps:

• Wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, linens, etc. When washing, use hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Place items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for one to several weeks to starve the mites.
• Vacuum the entire home on the day treatment is initiated, including carpets, rugs, upholstery, etc. , and discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

If you have a concern that you may have, or may be at risk for, contracting scabies, speak with a doctor.

Read the article in Spanish.

Scabies: Images, symptoms, and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Scabies is one of several skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes. It is a dermatologic condition caused by sarcoptes scabiei, an eight-legged microscopic mite.

Scabies is contagious and can spread very easily from person to person through close physical contact. This makes an outbreak likely in settings such as the family home, child care group, school class, nursing home, or prison.

However, it can affect people of all ages, whatever their living situation and socioeconomic status. If an individual has scabies, they and anyone they have close contact with must all be treated at the same time.

Fast facts on scabies

• While the scabies mite needs skin to feed and survive, it can live without a human host for 48 to 72 hours.
• The rash and itching experienced by those with scabies is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.
• The average person infested with scabies will have 15 to 20 mites present.
• Those at highest risk of developing crusted scabies include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those housed in institutional settings.

Share on PinterestScabies produces an itchy skin rash consisting of small red bumps and blisters.

Each year, scabies affects millions of people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic status.

It is highly contagious, being easily spread through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture infested with mites.

Scabies is estimated to infect over 300 million humans worldwide each year, including 1 million people in the United States.

Scabies most frequently occurs in children and young adults, with outbreaks in child care facilities and schools common.

The onset of symptoms of scabies varies depending on whether or not a person has previously been exposed to mites. The first time a person is exposed to the scabies mite, it can take upwards of 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to develop.

This timeframe is significantly shorter in subsequent infestations as the body’s immune system is quicker to react, typically within 1 to 4 days.

Signs and symptoms of scabies include:

• Itching: This is often worse at night and can be severe and intense. Itching is one of the most common scabies symptoms.
• Rash: When the mite burrows into the skin, it forms burrow tracks, or lines, which are most commonly found in skin folds, and resemble hives, bites, knots, pimples, or patches of scaly skin. Blisters may also be present.
• Sores: These occur in infested areas where a person has scratched at the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, commonly caused by secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Thick crusts: Crusted scabies, also known as Norwegian scabies, is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mite eggs are harbored within skin crusts, causing severe skin symptoms.

Most often, those affected with crusted scabies exhibit widespread, gray, thick, crumbling crusts.

Mites living in the detached crusts can live for upwards of a week without needing human contact due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

The most common site of infestation in adults and older children include:

• in between the fingers
• around fingernails
• armpits
• waistline
• inner parts of the wrists
• inner elbow
• soles of the feet
• the breasts, particularly the areas around the nipples
• male genitalia
• buttocks
• knees
• shoulder blades

Infants and young children experience infestation in other areas of the body, including the:

• scalp
• face
• neck
• palms of the hands
• soles of the feet

At times, children can present with a widespread infestation, covering a majority of the body. Infants who are infested with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability, and sleeping and eating difficulties.

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone living with a patient diagnosed with the condition, or who has had close contact with the patient, will most likely be recommended to receive treatment for scabies even if they do not have any symptoms. This includes any person with whom the patient has had recent intimate contact.

Scabies is generally treated with topical medications such as 5 percent permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion or 10 percent sulfur ointment may be used. Most topical preparations are applied at night and washed off in the morning.

Ivermectin, an oral medication, may be recommended for people who are immunocompromised, those with crusted scabies, or those who did not respond to topical therapy.

Ivermectin should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding nor by children weighing less than 33 pounds.

Other medications, such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions like Pramoxine lotion, antibiotics, and steroid creams might be prescribed to offer relief from symptoms.

Treatment with prescribed medications will generally kill mites quickly. The itching and rash may initially become worse.

However, skin healing should be seen by 4 weeks after treatment. Some people require more than one course of treatment to fully rid themselves of mites.

If you want to buy permethrin cream, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

Tests and diagnosis

Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for dermatitis or eczema as these skin conditions also cause itching and bumps on the skin. Anyone who is unsure about the cause of a skin condition should consult their physician as OTC remedies cannot eradicate scabies.

A doctor can diagnose scabies by examining the skin or by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

Scabies is an infestation of the sarcoptes scabiei mite, also known as the human itch mite.

After burrowing under the skin, the female mite lays its eggs in the tunnel it has created. Once hatched, the larvae move to the surface of the skin and spread across the body or to another host through close physical contact.

Humans are not the only species affected by mites. Dogs and cats can also be infected. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with non-human animal mites, a full-blown human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly contagious and spread via direct skin-to-skin contact or by using a towel, bedding, or furniture infested with the mites. As such, some of the most likely people to become infested with mites include:

• children attending day care or school
• parents of young children
• sexually active young adults and people with multiple sexual partners
• residents of extended care facilities
• older adults
• people who are immunocompromised, including those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and others on immunosuppressant medications

Home solutions for scabies are often not recommended.

Some infestations can resolve without treatment. However, it is mainly the preventive steps listed below that people with scabies can carry out without visiting a doctor.

However, herbal treatments, such as tea tree and neem oils, have not consistently been shown to treat scabies. It is therefore advisable to visit a doctor and ask for a prescription.

To prevent re-infestation and spread, take the following steps:

• Wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, linens, etc. When washing, use hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Place items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for one to several weeks to starve the mites.
• Vacuum the entire home on the day treatment is initiated, including carpets, rugs, upholstery, etc. , and discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

If you have a concern that you may have, or may be at risk for, contracting scabies, speak with a doctor.

Read the article in Spanish.

Scabies: Images, symptoms, and treatments

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Scabies is one of several skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes. It is a dermatologic condition caused by sarcoptes scabiei, an eight-legged microscopic mite.

Scabies is contagious and can spread very easily from person to person through close physical contact. This makes an outbreak likely in settings such as the family home, child care group, school class, nursing home, or prison.

However, it can affect people of all ages, whatever their living situation and socioeconomic status. If an individual has scabies, they and anyone they have close contact with must all be treated at the same time.

Fast facts on scabies

• While the scabies mite needs skin to feed and survive, it can live without a human host for 48 to 72 hours.
• The rash and itching experienced by those with scabies is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.
• The average person infested with scabies will have 15 to 20 mites present.
• Those at highest risk of developing crusted scabies include the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those housed in institutional settings.

Share on PinterestScabies produces an itchy skin rash consisting of small red bumps and blisters.

Each year, scabies affects millions of people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic status.

It is highly contagious, being easily spread through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture infested with mites.

Scabies is estimated to infect over 300 million humans worldwide each year, including 1 million people in the United States.

Scabies most frequently occurs in children and young adults, with outbreaks in child care facilities and schools common.

The onset of symptoms of scabies varies depending on whether or not a person has previously been exposed to mites. The first time a person is exposed to the scabies mite, it can take upwards of 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to develop.

This timeframe is significantly shorter in subsequent infestations as the body’s immune system is quicker to react, typically within 1 to 4 days.

Signs and symptoms of scabies include:

• Itching: This is often worse at night and can be severe and intense. Itching is one of the most common scabies symptoms.
• Rash: When the mite burrows into the skin, it forms burrow tracks, or lines, which are most commonly found in skin folds, and resemble hives, bites, knots, pimples, or patches of scaly skin. Blisters may also be present.
• Sores: These occur in infested areas where a person has scratched at the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, commonly caused by secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Thick crusts: Crusted scabies, also known as Norwegian scabies, is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mite eggs are harbored within skin crusts, causing severe skin symptoms.

Most often, those affected with crusted scabies exhibit widespread, gray, thick, crumbling crusts.

Mites living in the detached crusts can live for upwards of a week without needing human contact due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

The most common site of infestation in adults and older children include:

• in between the fingers
• around fingernails
• armpits
• waistline
• inner parts of the wrists
• inner elbow
• soles of the feet
• the breasts, particularly the areas around the nipples
• male genitalia
• buttocks
• knees
• shoulder blades

Infants and young children experience infestation in other areas of the body, including the:

• scalp
• face
• neck
• palms of the hands
• soles of the feet

At times, children can present with a widespread infestation, covering a majority of the body. Infants who are infested with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability, and sleeping and eating difficulties.

Scabies is highly contagious, so anyone living with a patient diagnosed with the condition, or who has had close contact with the patient, will most likely be recommended to receive treatment for scabies even if they do not have any symptoms. This includes any person with whom the patient has had recent intimate contact.

Scabies is generally treated with topical medications such as 5 percent permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25 percent benzyl benzoate lotion or 10 percent sulfur ointment may be used. Most topical preparations are applied at night and washed off in the morning.

Ivermectin, an oral medication, may be recommended for people who are immunocompromised, those with crusted scabies, or those who did not respond to topical therapy.

Ivermectin should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding nor by children weighing less than 33 pounds.

Other medications, such as antihistamines, anti-itching lotions like Pramoxine lotion, antibiotics, and steroid creams might be prescribed to offer relief from symptoms.

Treatment with prescribed medications will generally kill mites quickly. The itching and rash may initially become worse.

However, skin healing should be seen by 4 weeks after treatment. Some people require more than one course of treatment to fully rid themselves of mites.

If you want to buy permethrin cream, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

Tests and diagnosis

Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for dermatitis or eczema as these skin conditions also cause itching and bumps on the skin. Anyone who is unsure about the cause of a skin condition should consult their physician as OTC remedies cannot eradicate scabies.

A doctor can diagnose scabies by examining the skin or by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope.

Scabies is an infestation of the sarcoptes scabiei mite, also known as the human itch mite.

After burrowing under the skin, the female mite lays its eggs in the tunnel it has created. Once hatched, the larvae move to the surface of the skin and spread across the body or to another host through close physical contact.

Humans are not the only species affected by mites. Dogs and cats can also be infected. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with non-human animal mites, a full-blown human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly contagious and spread via direct skin-to-skin contact or by using a towel, bedding, or furniture infested with the mites. As such, some of the most likely people to become infested with mites include:

• children attending day care or school
• parents of young children
• sexually active young adults and people with multiple sexual partners
• residents of extended care facilities
• older adults
• people who are immunocompromised, including those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, and others on immunosuppressant medications

Home solutions for scabies are often not recommended.

Some infestations can resolve without treatment. However, it is mainly the preventive steps listed below that people with scabies can carry out without visiting a doctor.

However, herbal treatments, such as tea tree and neem oils, have not consistently been shown to treat scabies. It is therefore advisable to visit a doctor and ask for a prescription.

To prevent re-infestation and spread, take the following steps:

• Wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, linens, etc. When washing, use hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Place items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for one to several weeks to starve the mites.
• Vacuum the entire home on the day treatment is initiated, including carpets, rugs, upholstery, etc. , and discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

If you have a concern that you may have, or may be at risk for, contracting scabies, speak with a doctor.

Read the article in Spanish.

CDC – Scabies – Disease

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.

If a person has had scabies before, symptoms appear much sooner (1-4 days) after exposure. An infested person can transmit scabies, even if they do not have symptoms, until they are successfully treated and the mites and eggs are destroyed.

Common Symptoms

The most common symptoms of scabies, itching and a skin rash, are caused by sensitization (a type of “allergic” reaction) to the proteins and feces of the parasite. Severe itching (pruritus), especially at night, is the earliest and most common symptom of scabies. A pimple-like (papular) itchy (pruritic) “scabies rash” is also common. Itching and rash may affect much of the body or be limited to common sites such as:

• Between the fingers
• Wrist
• Elbow
• Armpit
• Penis

• Nipple
• Waist
• Buttocks
• Shoulder blades

The head, face, neck, palms, and soles often are involved in infants and very young children, but usually not adults and older children.

Tiny burrows sometimes are seen on the skin; these are caused by the female scabies mite tunneling just beneath the surface of the skin. These burrows appear as tiny raised and crooked (serpiginous) grayish-white or skin-colored lines on the skin surface. Because mites are often few in number (only 10-15 mites per person), these burrows may be difficult to find. They are found most often in the webbing between the fingers, in the skin folds on the wrist, elbow, or knee, and on the penis, breast, or shoulder blades.

Possible Complications

The intense itching of scabies leads to scratching that can lead to skin sores. The sores sometimes become infected with bacteria on the skin, such as Staphylococcus aureus or beta-hemolytic streptococci. Sometimes the bacterial skin infection can lead an inflammation of the kidneys called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Crusted (Norwegian) scabies

Crusted scabies is a severe form of scabies that can affect the elderly, persons who are immunocompromised, or persons who have conditions that prevent them from itching and/or scratching (spinal cord injury, paralysis, loss of sensation, mental debility). Crusted scabies is characterized by vesicles and thick crusts over the skin that can contain many mites. Itching (pruritus) may be absent in crusted scabies because of a patient’s altered immune status or neurological condition. Because they are infested with large numbers of mites (up to 2 million), persons with crusted scabies are very contagious. Persons with crusted scabies may not show the usual signs and symptoms of scabies such as the characteristic rash or itching (pruritus).

How to Know if That Rash Is Scabies

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. Gehris, MD, the chief of pediatric dermatology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Even royalty, with the right exposure, can get scabies.”

“It doesn’t present [show up] with symptoms immediately,” says Dr. Gehris. “Unless you’ve had it before, it takes about a month between when the mites set up shop and when it shows up in your skin.”

What It Feels Like to Have Scabies: Signs and Symptoms

Scabies typically starts with itching and a pimple-like rash, often in areas around your wrists, finger webs, elbows, armpits, waist, knees, ankles, or groin. Sex is a common route of infection.

One of scabies’ more distinctive effects happens when it worsens.

“It keeps people up at night — they don’t sleep well, and mentally they get very anxious,” says Adam Goldstein, MD, MPH, a professor of family medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.

If you think you may have scabies, a trip to your primary care doctor or dermatologist will often resolve the mystery. Under a microscope, a slide with a sample from the irritated area will typically show the mites.

Solve the Problem: Scabies Treatment That Works

“Primary care doctors can absolutely treat it, but sometimes it doesn’t present as straightforward, so you might end up seeing a specialist,” says Beth Goldstein, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Chapel Hill and an adjunct at UNC. Dr. Beth Goldstein and Adam Goldstein, MD, MPH, have coauthored guides for physicians on recognizing and treating scabies.

“I have had people with absolutely no rash who are just itchy,” says Amy Kassouf, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “It’s really an allergic reaction to the mite that makes you so itchy. Not everyone shows that as a rash.”

While the itching may be unpleasant, treating it is usually fairly straightforward, as long as you follow the recommended steps. When you go to your doctor for treatment, they may recommend an antihistamine and permethrin, which is applied to the skin to kill the mites. Usually, you apply it at bedtime.

“People can itch even if treated, but they will feel progressively better,” says Beth Goldstein.

Two applications of permethrin are recommended. Five to seven days after the first treatment, you’ll need a second treatment with permethrin to kill off mites that have hatched in the interim. This second step is important to prevent having to start the treatment cycle again.

RELATED: What Bit Me?

Getting the Entire Household Scabies Free

In families or households where one person has scabies, you’ll need to be proactive about treating everyone for scabies — even if they don’t have symptoms. That goes for babysitters or frequent visitors like grandparents, too.

“When one family member in a household gets diagnosed, in order to effectively treat that household, you have to treat everyone who lives there — not just the people who have rashes or are itchy,” says Gehris.

“If you don’t successfully treat it, it’s going to continue,” says Dr. Adam Goldstein.

That’s especially important for families to keep in mind. In addition to treating the person with scabies, the bedding, clothes, and towels need to be washed in hot water and dried on a hot setting, or dry-cleaned to rid them of the parasites.

Items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for 72 hours or more to kill the mites. This effectively decontaminates things like toys and other objects handled by the infected person or household members, in order to keep the mites from continuing to spread, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.

Scabies – NHS

Scabies is common and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.

Check if it’s scabies

The symptoms of scabies are:

• intense itching, especially at night
• a raised rash or spots

The spots may look red. They are more difficult to see on dark skin, but you should be able to feel them.

Tiny mites lay eggs in the skin, leaving lines with a dot at one end

Credit:

The rash can appear anywhere, but it often starts between the fingers

Credit:

The rash may then spread and turn into tiny spots. This may look red on lighter skin

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The scabies rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head.

However, older people, young children and those with a weakened immune system may develop a rash on their head and neck.

When it’s not scabies

Many other things can cause itchy skin and rashes in babies and children.

A pharmacist can help with scabies

Scabies is not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be treated.

A pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion that you apply over your whole body. It’s important to read the instructions carefully.

Let the pharmacist know if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.

You’ll need to repeat the treatment 1 week later.

Scabies is very infectious, but it can take up to 8 weeks for the rash to appear.

Everyone in your home needs to be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms.

Anyone you have had sexual contact with in the past 8 weeks should also be treated.

Things you can do during treatment to stop scabies spreading

Do

• wash all bedding and clothing in the house at 50C or higher on the first day of treatment

• put clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days until the mites die

• stop babies and children sucking treatment from their hands by putting socks or mittens on them

Don’t

• do not have sex or close physical contact until you have completed the full course of treatment

• do not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone with scabies

How long it takes to get rid of scabies

You or your child can go back to work or school 24 hours after the first treatment.

Although the treatment kills the scabies mites quickly, the itching can carry on for a few weeks.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• your skin is still itching 4 weeks after treatment has finished

Information:

Coronavirus update: how to contact a GP

It’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:

• visit their website
• use the NHS App
• call them

Find out about using the NHS during coronavirus

Scabies can spread easily

Scabies are passed from person to person by skin-to-skin contact. You cannot get scabies from pets.

People who live or work closely together in nurseries, university halls of residence or nursing homes are more at risk.

Scabies and hygiene

Anyone can get scabies. It has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

Complications of scabies

Scratching the rash can cause skin infections like impetigo.

Scabies can make conditions like eczema or psoriasis worse.

Page last reviewed: 17 November 2020
Next review due: 17 November 2023

90,000 symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment

Scabies (scabies) is one of the most common parasitic skin lesions. The causative agent of the pathology is the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The main symptoms of the disease are rashes on the skin, well-visible tick-borne passages in the upper layers of the dermis and scratching in places of their localization. Patients are treated under the supervision of a dermatologist.

Etiology of the disease

The cause of the development of scabies is the contact of a healthy child or adult with a carrier of scabies mites.Sarcoptes scabiei parasitizes only on humans. Scabies in the epidermis are laid by females whose body length does not exceed 100 microns. The hatching larvae emerge on the surface of the skin and independently penetrate into the epidermis due to the presence of a powerful jaw apparatus. For some time, ticks remain viable on the surface of household items – a healthy person can become a carrier of the parasite after using cutlery, dishes, and personal hygiene products. No less dangerous are door handles, stair railings, telephone handsets, bed linen.

Sarcoptes scabiei is inserted under the skin in 20-25 minutes. The causative agents of the disease die at temperatures above 50 degrees for 10 minutes, heating the environment to 80 degrees leads to an instant cessation of their activity.

Symptoms of scabies

The first signs of scabies appear in a healthy person 7-10 days after contact with a carrier of the pathology. With a close examination of the skin for 2-3 days, you can notice itching moves.Symptoms increase when females lay eggs in the thickness of the epidermis. Patients experience unbearable itching, which intensifies in the evening and at night. When Sarcoptes scabiei bites, they release chemically active substances that cause an allergic reaction and local inflammation of the skin. Itching leads to scratching, covered with bloody scabs.

Do you have symptoms of scabies?

Only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease.
Do not delay the consultation – call

+7 (495) 775-73-60

Classification of pathology

The symptoms of scabies detected during the examination of patients allow dermatologists to distinguish four types of the disease.

Diagnostic measures

Scabies is diagnosed by a dermatologist, therapist or infectious disease specialist.The basis for the diagnosis is clinical data and patient complaints. In some cases, a scraping is prescribed, a laboratory study of the resulting biomaterial is carried out. The test is not always informative due to the fact that patients shower before visiting the clinic.

During the examination, the doctor may heat individual areas of the skin or apply a drop of oil to them. These measures increase the locomotor activity of scabies mites. Dyes allow you to detect itch burrows in the absence of noticeable rashes on the skin.

Therapeutic course

Clinical guidelines include the treatment of all patients’ skin with emulsions or sprays. The exception is the scalp. Anti-scabious drugs have low toxicity and do not cause discomfort during treatment. The patient should shower before the first application of benzyl benzoate. Re-processing of the skin is carried out after 48 hours – ticks that are in the larval stage die.With the complete elimination of symptoms, a new cycle of application of the drug is not carried out. After completing treatment, the patient should use an antiseptic to treat furniture, household items, and clothing.

The crusted form of scabies requires a different approach to treatment. Antiscabious therapy is preceded by the stage of softening and removing the crusts by means of soap-soda baths or keratolytic ointments. After removing all the stratum corneum, the patient can start applying the benzyl benzoate solution to the affected areas.

Complications and prevention

Lack of treatment for scabies can lead to the development of pyoderma, microbial eczema, and dermatitis. For this reason, dermatologists recommend that patients seek medical attention at the first sign of scabies.

Prevention of scabies involves the elimination of foci of mass infection of people (quarantines in kindergartens and schools). Systematic examinations of children by doctors and adherence to the rules of personal hygiene by representatives of all age groups significantly reduce the risk of infection with scabies.

Statistics

Scabies is common among all social groups of Muscovites. The season of greatest activity of scabies mites lasts from April to October. At its peak, the incidence reaches 50 cases for every 100 thousand residents of the city. During the period of decline of the epidemic, this figure drops to 15-18 cases. Children and young people are at greatest risk due to active lifestyles and regular visits to public places.

Questions and Answers

Should relatives of a patient with diagnosed scabies undergo treatment?

People living with a carrier of scabies are very likely to become infected.For this reason, dermatologists often prescribe a prophylactic treatment with benzyl benzoate-based drugs to the patient’s relatives.

Is it immune to scabies?

Re-infection of a person with scabies is possible immediately after the completion of the current course. Because of this, doctors insist on the need for antiseptic treatment of furniture and clothing – patients do not develop immunity to scabies mites.

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90,000 Scabies. To know, so as not to be afraid – St. Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution Dermatovenerologic Dispensary No. 11

Despite the progress in the diagnosis and treatment of scabies, the problem of the incidence of this dermatosis remains relevant. According to official statistics, the incidence of scabies in Russia in recent years has been about 100 cases per 100,000 population.However, this indicator is actually much higher, since not all cases are registered, a rather high percentage of self-medication of the disease.

The reasons for the high incidence rate of scabies are currently social (poverty, inadequate sanitation and hygiene measures, early sexual activity, migration, increased travel), medical (contagious incubation period, atypical form of scabies) and mainly immunological ( decreased immune responses in humans to scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei hominis).

The first descriptions of scabies were made over 2500 years ago. Scabies is described in the Old Testament and in the writings of Aristotle. In ancient Greece, scabies was referred to a group of skin diseases united by the term “psora”. In ancient Rome, scabies was called “scabies”, this name has survived to this day. In medieval treatises, assumptions were made about the parasitic nature of scabies. Reliable evidence of the role of scabies mites in the development of the disease appears only after the creation of an optical microscope.In 1687, the Italian physician Giovan Cosimo Bonomo and the pharmacist Giacinto Cestoni first described the connection between scabies mites and typical skin symptoms following infection. It was they who first established that the disease can be caused by a microscopic organism. A complete and reliable description of the etiology and pathogenesis was given in 1844 by the German dermatologist Ferdinand Gebra. This manual was translated into Russian by A.G. Polotebnev in 1876.

Scabies is a disease caused by mites (Sarcoptes scabiei), which can parasitize human skin.The scabies mite is widespread, and at least 300 million patients are registered in the world every year.

Infection occurs from patients with scabies, as well as through contact with clothes and bedding, which have ticks.

After fertilization of the female, the male dies, and the females drill holes in the human skin, in which they lay up to 50 eggs. The development of mites from egg to sexually mature parasites occurs within 4 weeks. Adults live up to 2 months and feed on host tissues, i.e.e. skin. In this case, areas of delicate skin are affected. Grain mites, as well as mites of horses, pigs, dogs, sheep, goats, cats, birds, can also parasitize humans. Animal mites on human skin do not parasitize for a long time.

Clinical picture

The latent period from the moment the tick hits the skin and up to the clinical symptoms of the disease can be from 7-10 days to 4-6 weeks. Its duration depends on the massiveness of the primary infection.

The leading clinical symptom of scabies is itching of the skin, especially at night, when the patient gets warm.The female itch mite makes holes in the skin in the form of longitudinal or sinuous grayish-white lines with two black dots at the entry and exit of the itch mite. The stroke length is 3-10 mm, and therefore their pairwise arrangement is noticeable. There may be a nodule, vesicle, or reddish crust at the entry site of the scabies mite. When scratching a secondary infection, pustular rashes appear. Favorite localization of skin lesions in scabies: abdomen, lateral surfaces of the body, skin between the fingers, lateral surfaces of the fingers.

In young children, the process often involves the palms, soles, scalp, face and neck, where itch burrows can be found.

When scratching, the passages are opened with nails and mites are spread throughout the body.

The disease can persist for several years without treatment. There may also be erased forms of the disease, when itching is mild and a small amount of rash elements in atypical places.

Diagnostics

The presence of severe pruritus in typical areas with characteristic eruptions is the basis for suspicion of scabies.The final diagnosis will be made by a dermatologist after a special examination. This must be done due to the fact that other skin diseases can also occur under the mask of scabies: neurodermatitis, eczema, pruritus, urticaria, allergic rashes, toxicoderma, etc.

Prevention

It is necessary to highlight the personal and public prevention of invasion. Personal involves observing hygiene rules when dealing with animals and sick people, as well as observing personal hygiene when visiting public places.Patients are isolated and not allowed into the children’s team until the scabies is completely cured. Other family members should be examined for scabies.

Public prevention consists in the timely identification and effective treatment of patients, anti-epidemic measures in baths, hostels, kindergartens, as well as sanitary and educational work. Patients’ linen must be boiled, and clothes and bedding are processed in disinfection chambers.

For the provision of qualified medical care to patients with skin rashes, you can contact the St. Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution KVD No. 11 in the department at the addresses:

st.Tchaikovsky, building 1 (tel. 273-54-61)

st. Stremyannaya, building 4 (tel. 713-12-94)

Podolsk KVD | Official website of Podolsk dermatovenerologic dispensary

Modern approaches to the treatment of scabies | Novoselov V.S., Rumyantseva E.E.

MMA named after I.M. Sechenov

H Scotch is the most common parasitic skin disease. However, in Russia, the high figures of official statistics on the incidence of scabies in the population do not reflect the real state of the problem, since when patients turn to specialists of the general medical network, private practitioners, as well as during self-treatment, there are cases of underestimation of patients suffering from this ailment.Diagnostic errors (as a consequence of an insufficient level of laboratory diagnostics), unwillingness in some cases to carry out anti-epidemic measures in the foci of scabies, lead to the fact that doctors resort to all sorts of tricks – they diagnose “allergic dermatitis”, “urticaria”, “insect bites”, and treatment is carried out with anti-scab drugs [1].

The growth in the incidence of scabies is facilitated by such familiar social phenomena of our days as population migration, many refugees, lack of personal hygiene by a certain part of the population, early onset of sexual activity and others.Social factors aggravate such features of scabies as the contagiousness of the incubation period and the more frequent occurrence of atypical forms of the disease [2].

Etiology

Scabies (or, based on the specific name of the pathogen, scabies ) is caused by the scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei . In veterinary medicine, such diseases are called sarcoptic mange – by the generic name of the pathogen. By analogy, the pathological process that occurs in humans when scabies mites enter from animals is called pseudosarcoptic mange .

Scabies mite

Rash with scabies in the wrist area

Scabies in the interdigital space

Itch itching is a persistent (obligate) parasite that is characterized by transmission only from person to person. The type of parasitism determines the characteristics of the clinic and epidemiology of the disease, the tactics of diagnosis and treatment.Mites spend most of their life in the host’s skin and only during a short period of dispersal lead an ectoparasitic lifestyle on the skin surface. S. scabiei parasitizes in the surface layers of the skin, but with a complicated course it can also affect its deeper layers [1,3].

The life cycle of a tick is represented by two periods: reproductive and metamorphic. The reproductive cycle of the mite is as follows: an oval-shaped egg is laid by the female in the scabies, in which the larvae then hatch.Scabies can persist for up to 1.5 months and serve as a source of infection. The metamorphic period is determined by the appearance of the larva, which penetrates the skin through the passage and, after molting, turns into a protonymph, then into a teleonymph, which, in turn, becomes an adult in papules, vesicles, on the skin.

Epidemiology

Only young females and larvae are the invasive stages of development of the scabies mite.It is in these stages that the tick can pass from the host to another person and exist for some time in the external environment. Moreover, the duration of its life at a room temperature of 22 ° C and 35% humidity is about 4 days. At a temperature of 60 ° C, ticks die within 1 hour, and when boiled at temperatures below 0 ° C, they die almost immediately. Moreover, house dust, wooden surfaces, and natural fabrics are the most favorable habitats for S.scabiei outside the host. Sulfurous anhydride vapors kill the scabies mite in 2-3 minutes.It should also be noted that tick eggs are more resistant to various acaricidal agents [2,4].

Infection with scabies in 95% occurs when a tick is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person (and in half of cases – during sexual contact) or indirectly (through objects used by the patient). The rather rare indirect route of infection is explained by the rather weak vitality of the tick in the external environment, more often the pathogen is transmitted through the general use of bedding, washcloths, toys, writing utensils.Infection can also occur in showers, baths, hotels, trains and other public places, provided that the sanitary regime is violated [5].

Clinic

The incubation period for scabies in the case of infection by females is practically absent, since an invading female usually begins to gnaw through the course and lay eggs almost immediately; when infected with larvae, it is about 2 weeks, which corresponds to the time of tick metamorphosis [5].

Itching, worsening in the evening, is the first and main subjective symptom of the disease , as well as a factor that suppresses the population size and maintains it at a certain level without lethal outcome.Its intensity most often increases with the duration of the disease. It depends on the number of the parasite and the individual characteristics of the organism. The latter include: the state of the nervous system (the degree of irritation of the nerve endings by the parasite when moving) and sensitization of the body to the tick and its waste products (feces, oral secretions poured out when gnawing through the passage, secretion of the glands of the oviduct).

The distribution of scabies along the skin is not accidental and is determined by the rate of regeneration of the epidermis, the structure and thermal regime of the skin.Areas of the skin (hands, wrists, and feet), where the burrows are located, have a low temperature, minimal or no hair, and a maximum thickness of the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The latter factor allows the larvae to hatch from all eggs, and not be torn off along with the horny scales [5,6].

It should be noted that rashes in infants often involve areas of the skin that are extremely rare in adults: the face and head, soles and palms.Moreover, sometimes the phenomena of scabies on the face and head are “masked” by a picture of acute weeping eczema, torpid for therapy. In children of the first months of life, scabies at first can often give the impression of a child’s urticaria, since there are a large number of combed and bloody blisters on the skin of the back, buttocks and face. In children, scabies can be complicated by severe pyoderma and sepsis, up to the death of the patient [1].

In schoolchildren, pyogenic complications often mask scabies as a clinical picture of childhood pruritus, acute eczema or pyoderma [1].

Diagnostics

The diagnostic clinical criterion for the diagnosis is the presence of scabies, papules, vesicles . The most typical lesions in the form of passages, serous crusts, papules, vesicles appear in the area of ​​the hands, elbow joints, abdomen, buttocks, mammary glands, and thighs. There are also erased forms of scabies, which lead to an erroneous diagnosis and are often regarded as allergic dermatosis.

The clinical picture of scabies is not only the above-described rashes – the appearance of erosions, hemorrhagic crusts, excoriation, erythematous-infiltrative spots is possible.When the skin changes are complicated by a secondary infection, impetiginous elements, pustules, and purulent crusts appear. A complication of the disease is the formation of postscabious lymphoplasia, as reactive hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue.

Separate forms of scabies are distinguished: nodular (post-scabious skin lymphoplasia), scabies in children, Norwegian, pseudo-scabies [6].

The diagnosis of scabies is established on the basis of clinical manifestations, epidemiological data and laboratory results .Known methods of removing a tick with a needle, thin sections, layer-by-layer scraping, alkaline preparation of the skin. Express diagnostics of scabies is carried out using a 40% aqueous solution of lactic acid. Less commonly, the diagnosis is made on the basis of a positive effect in the treatment of ex juvantibus with one of the anti-scab drugs (Table 1) [2,3,6,7,10].

Treatment

Currently, a fairly large number of drugs and regimens are used to treat scabies.Table 2 presents the drugs most commonly used in dermatological practice, with an assessment of their effectiveness.

Currently, a fairly large number of drugs and regimens are used to treat scabies. Table 2 presents the drugs most commonly used in dermatological practice, with an assessment of their effectiveness.

In any case, before starting therapy, it is advisable to take a hot shower, using a washcloth and soap, in order to mechanically remove ticks and sebum from the skin surface, as well as to loosen the surface layer of the epidermis, which, in turn, facilitates the penetration of anti-scabioses.However, water procedures are contraindicated in the presence of secondary pyoderma phenomena.

Benzyl benzoate , emulsion (20% for adults, 10% for children). For its preparation, 20 g of green soap (in its absence, laundry soap or shampoo) is dissolved in 780 ml of warm boiled water and 200 ml of benzyl benzoate is added. The suspension is stored in a dark place at room temperature for no more than 7 days from the date of preparation. The patient or the healthcare professional performing the rubbing, before starting treatment, washes his hands with warm water and soap.The emulsion is thoroughly shaken before use, and then rubbed with hands over the entire skin, except for the head, face and neck. They start with the simultaneous rubbing of the drug into the skin of both hands, then rub it into the left and right upper extremities, then into the skin of the trunk (chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, genitals), and, finally, into the skin of the lower extremities to the toes and soles. Two consecutive rubbing is carried out daily for 10 minutes with a 10-minute break (for drying the skin) for 2 days in a row. After processing, underwear and bedding are changed.After each wash, hands are additionally processed. On the third day, the patient must wash and change the linen again [8].

For the treatment of children under 3 years old, a 10% solution is used, which is prepared by diluting a 20% suspension with an equal volume of boiled water. For children, it is recommended to rub the drug lightly into the scalp and face, but so that it does not get into the eyes, which causes a strong burning sensation (for this, you can put on the mittens after the procedure).

In case of common or complicated forms of the disease, when in the course of treatment the doctor notes the appearance of fresh rashes on the skin, and the patient complains of continued itching in the evening and at night, it is recommended to lengthen the course of treatment to three days or to prescribe a second two-day course three days after the end of the first …

Benzyl benzoate, which is part of the water-soap suspension, has not only an antiparasitic effect, penetrates well into the skin, but also has a mild anesthetic effect. It is successfully used for accelerated treatment, which is especially important in an unfavorable epidemic situation. The disadvantage of this drug is a strong local irritant effect, which can cause soreness when applied to the skin [2,8].

Treatment according to by the Demianovich method , which is carried out with two solutions: No. 1 (60% sodium thiosulfate solution) and No. 2 (6% hydrochloric acid solution), previously often used in dermatological practice.This method is recommended for uncommon scabies, in other cases it is better to combine it with the subsequent rubbing in of sulfuric ointment for three days. The method is based on the acaricidal action of sulfur and sulfurous anhydride, released during the interaction of sodium hyposulfite and hydrochloric acid. Among the disadvantages can be noted: labor intensity, low efficiency when used on an outpatient basis, as well as frequently occurring drug dermatitis [2].

Ointments containing sulfur or tar (Wilkinson’s ointment, 20-30% sulfuric ointment), rub for 10 minutes into the skin of the whole body, except for the face and scalp.Especially vigorously it is necessary to rub the ointment in places of the favorite localization of rashes (hands, wrists, elbows, abdomen). Rubbing is performed for five days in a row (preferably at night). A day after the last rubbing in, the ointments are washed with soap, underwear and bed linen, outerwear are changed. In the area with more delicate skin (genitals, areola, inguinal-femoral and other folds), to avoid irritation, rub the ointment more carefully. Sulfur, in addition to anti-scab, also has a keratolytic effect, which provides better drug access to the pathogen.In case of complications with pyoderma, these phenomena should be stopped first of all with the help of antibiotics, sulfonamides or disinfecting ointments. In the case of severe eczematization, antihistamines and topical corticosteroids are prescribed. Among the disadvantages of this method of treatment are: duration of use, unpleasant odor, contamination of linen, frequent development of complications. These ointments are usually not prescribed for persons with delicate skin (especially children), as well as for patients with eczema [9].

Lindane Lotion 1% is applied once to the entire surface of the skin and left for 6 hours, then washed off.Lindane is most convenient in the form of a powder in hot climates (15.0–20.0 g of powder is rubbed into the skin 2-3 times a day, every other day they take a shower and change their linen). The drug can also be used in the form of 1% cream, shampoo or 1-2% ointment. Usually, a single treatment of a person with an exposure of 12-24 hours is sufficient for a complete cure. Lindane has high efficiency and low cost, but due to its sufficient toxicity, its use is strictly prohibited in children (especially under 2 years of age), pregnant women, patients with multiple scratches, patients suffering from eczema, atopic dermatitis, as it can cause exacerbation of diseases.The toxicity of lindane is associated with its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in all fatty tissues, mainly in the white matter of the brain, remaining there for 2 weeks, which can cause irreversible mental disorders, up to epileptic seizures and schizophrenia. Cases of aplastic anemia after treatment with this drug have also been described [8].

Recently, due to its long-term use, there have been cases of the so-called lindane-resistant scabies, when even repeated treatment with this drug for a long time does not lead to recovery.

Crotamion is used as a 10% cream, lotion or ointment. Rub in after washing 2 times a day with a daily interval or 4 times with an interval of 12 hours for 2 days. The drug is characterized by a low level of scabicidal activity and, therefore, the need for daily treatments for several (up to five) days. The literature describes both severe side effects and cases of tick resistance to the drug.

Permethrin is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of scabies.After a single treatment at night, the percentage of cured is 89–98%. The drug is left for 8-12 hours (overnight), after which it is necessary to wash with soap and put on clean linen. The procedure can be repeated in the period from 7 to 10 days if the pathogen remains alive.

A solution of esdepaletrin and piperonyl butoxide is applied in the evening (18-19 hours) on the patient’s skin from the cervical region to the soles (first on the skin of the trunk, then on the extremities). First of all, the infected person is treated, and then other family members.The aerosol allows the solution to be applied to the entire surface of the skin and ensures the penetration of the active substances into the skin and scabies. Wash thoroughly 12 hours after exposure. The drug is used in all age groups and has no contraindications. If necessary, it is possible to reuse the drug 10–12 days after the initial treatment. The effectiveness of this remedy is 80-91%, and even if healed, itching and other symptoms may persist for another 8-10 days.

Before using the drug, it is necessary to cure the manifestations of secondary infection (impetigo) or eczematization. When treating children and newborns, while spraying the drug, it is necessary to close their mouth and nose with a napkin, and in case of changing diapers, re-treat the entire buttocks zone.

Ivermectin is a veterinary drug, belongs to the group of semisynthetic macrocyclic lactones obtained from soil actinomycete Streptomyces avermictilis .The mechanism of action is based on the enhancement of inhibitory GABAergic processes in the nervous system of parasites, which leads to their immobilization and death. As an anthelmintic drug, it is used for some filariasis and strongyloidosis. It is also used to treat scabies. The drug is contraindicated in children under 5 years of age. Ivermectin is currently not registered in Russia [7,10].

The success of the treatment of scabies depends not only on the competent use of scabicidal agents in the patient and those around him, but also on the conduct of sanitization of things, clothes and premises .

For the treatment of the room, as well as linen and clothes that cannot be boiled, a highly effective agent is used, which is a combination of esdepaletrin and piperonyl butoxide in an aerosol can. Part of the drug esdepaletrin – pyrethroid, acts directly on the nervous system of the insect. When combined with the lipid base of insect nerve cell membranes, cationic conductivity is disrupted. The action of pyrethroids is enhanced by piperonyl butoxide.The tool is highly effective in the treatment of various types of head lice, scabies, and infection with random types of parasites (fleas, bedbugs).

The patients’ linen to be boiled is boiled, ironed thoroughly or ventilated in the air for 5 days, and in the cold for 1 day.

Control of recovery is carried out 3 days after the end of treatment, and then every 10 days for 1.5 months [9].

The success of treatment is determined by both the drug itself and its concentration, the choice of which depends on the patient’s age, pregnancy, the degree of development of the process, the presence of complications and their severity.The correct use of the drug plays an important role. You need to rub in any product only with your hands, it is better in the evening. This is due to the nighttime activity of the pathogen and the fact that 6–8 hours of sleep is enough for the death of the active stages of the scabies mite. In places with more delicate skin, the intensity of rubbing should be limited, and in order to avoid dermatitis, they should be carried out in the direction of vellus hair growth.

To prevent drug dermatitis and fix itching (by the conditioned reflex mechanism), it is recommended to prescribe hyposensitizing and antihistamines from the first days of anti-scab treatment.

Literature:

1. Ivanov O. L. Skin and venereal diseases: Handbook. – M .: Medicine, 1997, p. 237-240.

2. Korsunskaya I.M., Tamrazova O.B. Modern approaches to the treatment of scabies. // Consilium medicum. – 2003. – v. 5. – Number 3. – from. 148-149.

3. Kubanova A.A., Sokolova T.V., Lange A.B. Scabies. Methodical recommendations for doctors. M., 1992.

4. Skripkin Yu.K. Skin and venereal diseases, guidance.M., Medicine, 1995, p. 456 – 483.

5. Skripkin Yu.K., Fedorov S.M., Selissky G.D. // Vestn. dermatol., 1997, p. 22 – 25.

6. Pavlov S.T. Skin and venereal diseases, reference book. Medicine, 1969, pp. 142 – 153.

7. Sokolova T.V., Fedorovskaya R.F., Lange A.B. Scabies. M .: Medicine, 1989.

8. Sokolova T.V. Scabies and rat tick-borne dermatitis. New in etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnosis and treatment // Diss. Dr. med.sciences in the form of scientific. report. M., 1992.

9. Sokolova T.V. Scabies. New in etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnosis, treatment and prevention (lecture). // Ros. zhurn. skin and veins. diseases, N 1, 2001, p. 27–39.

10. Fitzpatrick T, Johnson R, Wolfe M, Surmond D. Dermatology. Atlas-reference book. M .: Practice, 1999, p. 850-856.

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Skin itching as a symptom of diseases of internal organs and skin

Types of itching

In the literature, the term “itching” is understood as a sensation that causes a purposeful scratching reflex.In the scientific literature, itching is also referred to as “pruritus” (from Latin prūrio – to scratch). Often, this phenomenon is one of the first symptoms of not only skin, but also internal diseases, diseases of the nervous system, hormonal disorders and even tumors. That is why itching is currently regarded as an “interdisciplinary symptom” and in some cases even isolated as a separate disease.

Allocate general (generalized) and local (localized) pruritus. Acute generalized – more often it is a consequence of food, drug allergies, reactions to cold, heat, etc.Generalized pruritus is often a symptom of serious illnesses: diabetes mellitus, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, malignant neoplasms, etc.

Localized itching occurs most often in the scalp and anogenital area and is paroxysmal in nature. The reasons for the development of this phenomenon in the anal area, as a rule, are considered to be chronic inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, infections, incl. helminthic invasions, etc.Long-term sensations are often complicated by the development of a bacterial infection, candidiasis. Localized itching is also observed in the area of ​​rashes in various skin diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, etc.

The incidence of pruritus in skin and systemic diseases

90,023 77-84%

90,023 58% / 30%

90,023 58%

Pruritus persisting for more than 6 weeks is defined as chronic.Its frequency among the adult population is, according to research, 8-9%. Chronic phenomena are observed in various skin diseases (atopic dermatitis / neurodermatitis, eczema, prurigo, psoriasis, etc.) and systemic diseases.

Itching for various skin diseases

The mechanism of development of itching

The mechanisms of development of pruritus in chronic kidney disease are not fully understood. The role of metabolic disorders is suggested, as well as the involvement of opioid receptors in the process and increased skin dryness.Itching usually develops after 2-3 months. after the start of hemodialysis, in 25-50% of cases it is generalized, in other cases it is localized. Itching is usually most pronounced in the back and face.

In liver diseases, itching is a very common symptom (observed in 80% of cases of liver cirrhosis, in 15% of all cases of viral hepatitis C). Typically begins in the area of ​​the palms and soles, as well as in the rubbing area of ​​clothing. Its intensification is characteristic at night.Over time, itching becomes generalized, while scratching the skin brings little relief.

In endocrine pathology, for example, diabetes mellitus and hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands, itching may be accompanied by a burning sensation, tingling sensation, “creeping creeps”. Lack of vitamin D, minerals, iron also in some cases leads to the development of this phenomenon. With iron deficiency, “aquagenic itching” is often observed (on contact with water). As a rule, restoration of normal levels of iron and minerals leads to the disappearance of any sensations within 2 weeks from the start of therapy.

Itching can be one of the symptoms of tumors and blood diseases. Possible mechanisms of its occurrence are assumed to be toxic effects, allergic reactions to tumor components, as well as a direct irritant effect on the nerves and the brain (in brain tumors).

Systemic diseases that may be accompanied by itching

• Metabolic and endocrinological disorders: chronic renal failure, liver diseases, diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, iron deficiency.
• Infectious diseases: HIV infection, parasitosis and helminthic infestations.
• Diseases of the blood: polycythemia vera, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphoma.
• Neurological diseases: multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, brain and spinal cord tumors, postherpetic neuralgia.
• Psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders: depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorders.

90,000 Scabies in cats.How to treat?

Feline scabies is a contagious disease caused by parasitic microorganisms that get on the skin. Pathology is typical for homeless animals, it rarely affects pets. Ticks are transmitted from infected objects, birds, outdoor sick cats, or humans. Scabies does not go away on its own and is a serious condition. A sick animal must be shown to the veterinarian to identify the pathogen and prescribe the appropriate treatment.Otherwise, it leads to the death of the cat, caused by constant discomfort.

Causes of scabies

Pathogens of pathology in a pet are microscopic mites, invisible to the naked eye. There are several varieties of these mites:

• Notoedres cati provokes the development of notoedrosis – head scabies, primarily affects the head and ears of the cat, later covers the entire skin
• Sarcoptes canis causes sarcoptic mange, a disease accompanied by severe itching
• Otodectes cynotis – a mite that lives in a humid warm environment, parasitizes in the ears, causes otodectosis

All varieties of scabies are contagious, you can pick up the disease from sick relatives or other animals.The contact of pests on the skin of a pet causes their active reproduction and spread. Female mites form scabies in the skin and leave clutches of eggs. An adult female is capable of laying up to 50-60 eggs during her life cycle. After a few days, the larvae appear, quickly transforming into young individuals. The high rate of reproduction of parasites can lead to various complications. Timely treatment will help to avoid this.

How does the disease manifest itself?

The development of the disease begins with the appearance of foci on the head and ears of the cat.Gradually, the parasites manifest themselves in the rest of the body. The disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
1. Constant itching. Parasites are constantly moving inside the skin, drinking blood and gnawing out new passages. The cat often itches and licks the wounds that appear.
2. The cat’s behavior changes, it becomes restless, may refuse to eat and constantly scratches the skin.
3. The appearance of bald patches. First of all, the hair falls out on the ears and muzzle, then on the neck and the rest of the body. Since the time, the areas of baldness have increased in size, the remaining hair dulls and thins.
4. The appearance of redness, scratches and abscesses is observed on the skin. Rashes are formed in the form of nodules, over time they begin to fester and become covered with a dense crust.
5. In places of accumulation of parasites, elastic tubercles with pronounced redness appear. If mites accumulate in the area of ​​the lymph nodes, their increase is observed.

Distinct symptoms appear on the 6-7th day of the development of the pathological process. In the absence of proper and timely treatment, the risk of various infections is high.Running scabies affects most of the cat’s body, helping pathogenic bacteria to enter the body unhindered.

Diagnostics of pathologies in animals

The primary signs of scabies are similar for symptoms of allergy, fungus, dermatitis, shingles, etc. It is impossible to prescribe self-treatment, an incorrectly selected method can lead to serious consequences.
When making a diagnosis, the veterinarian relies on more than just external signs. An examination is mandatory, to detect and determine the type of parasite, a scraping is taken from the affected area of ​​the body.A laboratory study of the material obtained will help prescribe an effective treatment.

How to get rid of scabies mites?

The first stage of treatment is the removal of parasites from the pet’s skin. Various topical medications may be prescribed by veterinarians. A simple sulfuric ointment has a good disinfecting effect. It is also allowed to use solutions “Stomazan”, “Butox”.
When carrying out treatment, it is important to fully comply with the recommendations of a specialist. A missed day can lead to a deterioration in the general condition of the pet.The number of parasites will increase, making itchy scabies worse.

Disease in cats is treated with several antiparasitic agents:
• Baymek
• Amirtrazine
• Novomek

For the treatment of sarcoptic mange, otodectosis, a veterinarian may prescribe Stronghold drops – an antiparasitic medicine for external use.
Ivermectin has a strong effect on treatment. It contains gamma-aminobutyric acid, which causes paralysis in parasites. Veterinarians do not recommend using it to treat small kittens.

The second stage is to strengthen the pet’s immune system, a course of vitamins is prescribed. When the body is strong enough, the healing process will noticeably accelerate. With weak immunity, the disease can re-manifest itself.

Recommendations for prevention and treatment

An animal infected with scabies should be isolated from other pets and family members. Household items of a cat must be thrown away or taken out in the cold. Subzero temperatures quickly kill parasites.Personal belongings should be ironed with a hot iron, the room should be well ventilated. All accessible surfaces are disinfected to get rid of parasites. Such actions will help protect the pet from secondary infection with parasites.
It is best to wear medical gloves when handling a sick cat. After the procedure, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. In the process of treatment, a person no longer runs the risk of becoming infected, ticks die instantly from topical preparations.
For the prevention of pets, they are protected from contact with stray animals.Prophylaxis against infection by ticks and other parasites is periodically carried out. For these purposes, antiparasitic agents based on selamectin are used. It is contained in the Stronghold drops; for prophylaxis, the agent is applied to the withers once a month. The drops are absorbed into the skin, providing a protective effect against various parasites.
It is important to note that the use of ointments as directed by a doctor can lead to complete baldness of the pet. You should not be afraid of this, after the treatment, the hair grows back quickly.
It should be noted that young pets with a fragile immune system are susceptible to this disease. A complete and balanced diet will help strengthen your cat’s immune system.
Scabies is quite a serious disease. A sick animal looks exhausted, and an advanced stage can lead to its death. The onset of primary symptoms is a serious reason for contacting a specialist.

90,000 Causes of scabies in cats: causes, signs, treatment

Published: 17/07/2018 Time to read: 7 minutes 21786

The pet suddenly began to actively scratch itself.Is it a sudden unpleasant habit or a sign of illness? Should you take steps to combat this, or should you rush to make an appointment with your veterinarian?

When to watch out for

Scratching and licking is part of a cat’s daily grooming ritual. However, if the pet begins to itch more often than usual and does it quite actively, the owners should be wary. This behavior can be a sign of illness, especially if:

• the cat’s behavior has changed;
• scratching, she meows plaintively;
• tries to bite itself, gnaws and chews on the skin;
• goes to a bowl of food less often or, conversely, began to eat more than usual;
• sleeps in fits and starts, often wakes up to scratch;
• refuses favorite games;
• began to show aggression or, on the contrary, became apathetic.

All of this means that a cat or cat should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Since itching is not an independent disease, but only one of a set of symptoms, we can talk about an allergic reaction, a fungal disease, a disease caused by viruses, parasites, bacteria.

Flea dermatitis

Fleas are one of the most common causes of itchy skin in cats. At the same time, not only bites, but also an allergic reaction to them, can cause extremely unpleasant sensations in an animal.Therefore, it is worth carefully examining the cat’s fur, because fleas are quite noticeable insects. They are most easily seen on the belly, behind the ears, armpits, on the sacrum and withers. Also, fleas do not like water and shampoo, so they crawl out while bathing.

After consulting with a veterinarian, it is necessary to promptly treat the cat from fleas, for example, with the help of Bars drops, Bars Forte spray, Lugovoy or Bars shampoo. The importance of treatment is not only to rid the pet of the biting parasite, but also to protect it from infestations, such as cucumber tapeworm, since the flea is a carrier and intermediate host for some parasites.When using the drug, you must correctly follow all instructions from the instructions. It is also very important to process not only the pet, but also the room for the destruction of eggs and flea larvae.

Atopic dermatitis

Itching can be seasonal, for example, appear in the spring or summer, or vice versa, disappear during the holidays in the country and recur when you return to the apartment. The cause is the cat’s increased sensitivity to certain external factors (reaction, for example, to pollen or to some species of insects or dust mites living in the house).It is possible to establish the exact cause of the occurrence by passing certain tests (blood for antibodies or skin allergy test).

Food allergy

The reason for the occurrence is a kind of reaction to certain categories of proteins and their derivatives, or other substances, such as certain dyes and preservatives, obtained with food. You can clarify the causes and stop itching attacks by prescribing an exclusionary diet to your pet. To do this, you need to contact your veterinarian.

Scabies

Some types of mites, including ear otodectis, cutaneous heyletiella, and itch notoedrus, may be responsible for severe itching.

Notoedrosis

The main symptoms: severe itching, papules that appear on the face, ears and neck. The disease progresses rapidly, the number of papules increases. They also appear on other parts of the body and are located in the form of nests.In addition to them, scabs are visible on the affected areas, the hair may be stuck together due to liquid discharge from papules. For the treatment of the disease, drugs with acaricides are used, for example, a solution for external use “Amit Forte”.

Otodectosis

It is manifested by frequent scratching due to severe ear itching, the appearance of dark grains in the auricle cavity or serous discharge with an unpleasant odor. For the treatment of the disease, the doctor may prescribe ear drops (“Bars”), drops on the withers (“Dironet spot-on”).The use of immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory, sometimes anesthetics, vitamin complexes can also be shown.

Heiletiellosis

The main symptom is the onset of severe flaking on the skin (the appearance of dandruff particles). Scaly papules may form. The course of the disease is accompanied by itching. In the course of drug therapy, drugs “Dironet spot-on”, “Amit forte” solution, etc. can be used.

Bacterial infections

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent of bacterial skin infections in cats.As a rule, the impetus for the development of the disease is a violation of the integrity of the skin, a decrease in its protective properties and a general decrease in immunity. The disease is manifested by the formation of pustules or rashes on the skin, discharge, foci of inflammation, hair loss and often itching of the skin.