What are the symptoms of elbow scabies. How is scabies transmitted. Who is at higher risk for scabies infestations. What complications can arise from untreated scabies. How is scabies diagnosed and treated effectively.

What Is Scabies and How Does It Affect the Body?

Scabies is not an infection but an infestation caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic parasites burrow into the outer layers of human skin, triggering an intense immune response. As the female mites tunnel and lay eggs, the body reacts with severe itching and a characteristic rash.

The primary symptoms of scabies include:

• Intense itching, particularly at night
• A pimple-like rash
• Scales or blisters on the skin
• Sores caused by persistent scratching

One distinguishing feature of scabies is the appearance of track-like burrows in the skin. These raised, grayish-white or skin-colored lines are created by female mites as they tunnel just beneath the skin surface to lay their eggs.

Common Areas Affected by Scabies Infestations

While scabies mites can infest any part of the body, they tend to prefer certain areas. The most commonly affected regions include:

• Between the fingers
• Folds of the wrist, elbow, and knee
• Around the waistline and navel
• Breasts and genital areas
• In young children: head, neck, face, palms, and soles of feet

Why do scabies mites prefer these areas? These regions often provide warm, moist environments with thin skin, making it easier for the mites to burrow and establish their presence.

How Is Scabies Transmitted and Who Is at Risk?

Scabies typically spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, giving the slow-moving mites time to crawl from one person to another. Contrary to popular belief, casual contact like handshakes or brief hugs rarely results in transmission.

Certain groups are at higher risk for scabies infestations:

• Sexually active adults
• Prison inmates
• People in institutional care settings
• Individuals living in crowded conditions
• Children and staff in daycare facilities

Can pets transmit scabies to humans? While dogs and cats can get scabies (known as mange), the mites causing these infestations are different from those affecting humans. You may get mites from handling an infested pet, but they typically cannot reproduce in human skin and usually die off without causing serious symptoms.

Recognizing Scabies Symptoms and Distinguishing Features

Identifying scabies can be challenging, especially in its early stages, as the rash may resemble other skin conditions. However, several key factors set scabies apart:

Relentless Itching

The hallmark symptom of scabies is intense, persistent itching that often worsens at night. This itch is typically more severe in children and the elderly.

Characteristic Rash

The scabies rash usually appears as small, red, itchy bumps that may resemble pimples, bites, or hives. In some cases, the skin may develop scales or blisters.

Visible Burrows

One of the most distinctive signs of scabies is the presence of burrows in the skin. These appear as thin, grayish-white or skin-colored raised lines, often found in the webbing between fingers or in skin folds.

Complications and Risks Associated with Untreated Scabies

While scabies itself is not life-threatening, leaving the condition untreated can lead to several complications:

Secondary Bacterial Infections

The intense itching associated with scabies often leads to excessive scratching, which can break the skin and create open sores. These wounds are prone to bacterial infections, with impetigo being the most common complication.

Crusted Scabies

Also known as Norwegian scabies, this severe form of infestation involves thousands of mites on a single person. It causes thick crusts to form on the skin, filled with mites and eggs. Crusted scabies is highly contagious and most common in individuals with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and those with disabilities.

Diagnosing Scabies: What to Expect During a Medical Examination

How do healthcare professionals diagnose scabies? In most cases, a doctor can identify scabies based on the appearance of the rash and the patient’s description of symptoms. However, additional steps may be taken to confirm the diagnosis:

Visual Examination

The doctor will carefully examine the affected areas, looking for characteristic signs such as the scabies rash and burrows.

Skin Scraping

In some cases, a skin scraping may be performed to confirm the presence of mites. This involves collecting a small sample of skin from the affected area and examining it under a microscope to look for mites, eggs, or fecal matter.

Effective Treatment Options for Scabies Infestations

Scabies will not resolve on its own and requires prescription medications to eliminate the mites. What are the primary treatment options for scabies?

Topical Medications

The most common treatment for scabies involves applying a prescription cream or lotion to the entire body from the neck down. These medications typically contain ingredients that kill the mites and their eggs. The treatment is usually left on for 8 to 14 hours before being washed off.

Oral Medications

In some cases, particularly for severe infestations or in patients who cannot tolerate topical treatments, a doctor may prescribe oral medications to treat scabies.

Treatment Duration

The duration of treatment can vary depending on the medication used, but it typically takes up to three days to complete the course.

It’s important to note that while these treatments effectively kill the mites and their eggs, they do not immediately relieve itching. The itching associated with scabies can persist for several weeks after treatment as the body continues to react to the dead mites and their waste products.

Preventing Scabies Outbreaks and Reinfestations

Preventing scabies outbreaks and avoiding reinfestations is crucial, especially in high-risk environments. What steps can be taken to minimize the risk of scabies transmission?

Personal Hygiene and Cleanliness

Maintaining good personal hygiene practices can help reduce the risk of scabies infestations. This includes regular bathing and avoiding sharing personal items such as clothing, towels, and bedding with others.

Treating Close Contacts

When a person is diagnosed with scabies, it’s essential to treat all household members and close physical contacts simultaneously, even if they don’t show symptoms. This helps prevent reinfestation and break the cycle of transmission.

Environmental Decontamination

Scabies mites can survive for short periods away from human skin. To prevent reinfestation, it’s important to wash all bedding, clothing, and towels used by the infested person in hot water and dry them on high heat. Items that can’t be washed should be sealed in plastic bags for at least 72 hours.

Institutional Protocols

In settings prone to scabies outbreaks, such as long-term care facilities and daycares, implementing screening protocols for new residents or attendees can help prevent the introduction and spread of scabies.

By understanding the nature of scabies, recognizing its symptoms, and taking prompt action when an infestation is suspected, individuals and communities can effectively manage and prevent the spread of this uncomfortable skin condition. Remember, early diagnosis and treatment are key to minimizing discomfort and preventing complications associated with scabies infestations.

Pictures of Rash & Mites, Symptoms, Treatment

Medically Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on November 22, 2022

Scabies is not an infection, but an infestation. Tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei set up shop in the outer layers of human skin. The skin does not take kindly to the invasion. As the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash.

When a person is infested with scabies for the first time, it can take four to six weeks for the skin to react. The most common symptoms are:

• Intense itching, especially at night
• A pimple-like rash
• Scales or blisters
• Sores caused by scratching

In its early stages, scabies may be mistaken for other skin conditions because the rash looks similar. This image compares acne, mosquito bites, and scabies. What sets scabies apart is the relentless itch. Itching is usually most severe in children and the elderly.

Another hallmark of scabies is the appearance of track-like burrows in the skin. These raised lines are usually grayish-white or skin-colored. They are created when female mites tunnel just under the surface of the skin. After creating a burrow, each female lays 10 to 25 eggs inside.

Scabies mites can live anywhere on the body, but some of their favorite spots include:

• Between the fingers
• The folds of the wrist, elbow, or knee
• Around the waistline and navel
• On the breasts or genitals
• The head, neck, face, palms, and soles in very young children

Most people with scabies only carry 10 to 15 mites at any given time, and each mite is less than half a millimeter long. This makes them very difficult to spot. To the naked eye, they may look like tiny black dots on the skin. A microscope can identify mites, eggs, or fecal matter from a skin scraping.

Scabies typically spreads through prolonged, skin-to-skin contact that gives the mites time to crawl from one person to another. Shared personal items, such as bedding or towels, may occasionally be to blame. Scabies can be passed easily between family members or sexual partners. It is not likely to spread through a quick handshake or hug. The scabies mite can’t jump or fly, and it crawls very slowly.

Dogs and cats get scabies, too — better known as mange. However, canine scabies and feline scabies are not caused by the same type of mite that triggers human scabies. You can get mites from handling an infested pet, but these mites can’t reproduce in human skin. This means they usually die off without causing serious symptoms.

Anyone can get scabies, but those at higher risk include:

• Sexually active adults
• Prison inmates
• People in institutional care
• People living in crowded conditions
• People in child care facilities

Scabies outbreaks occasionally strike daycare centers. Young children tend to play in ways that involve skin-to-skin contact. They may also share naptime mats and blankets. If scabies is found in a child who attends daycare, it’s important to notify the staff. The child’s classmates and caregivers will probably need to be treated as well, even if symptoms have yet to appear.

Long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and homes for the developmentally disabled, are also prone to scabies outbreaks. Because caregivers assist residents with bathing and dressing, skin-to-skin contact is common. The CDC recommends all new long-term care patients and staff be screened for scabies.

Also called Norwegian scabies, crusted scabies is a very severe infestation involving tens of thousands of mites on a single person. This causes the skin to develop thick crusts full of mites and eggs. Crusted scabies is most common in people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and people who are disabled. This type of scabies is highly contagious and requires swift treatment to prevent outbreaks.

The intense itch of scabies makes it difficult to resist scratching. Frequent scratching can create open sores that are prone to infection. Bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo, are the most common complication of scabies. Symptoms may include honey-colored, oozing blisters. This type of infection is usually treated with antibiotics.

In most cases, a doctor can identify scabies based on the appearance of the rash and your description of the itch. Sometimes a skin scraping is used to confirm the diagnosis. This involves collecting skin from the affected area and using a microscope to check the sample for mites, eggs, or fecal matter.

Scabies will not go away on its own. It can only be cured with prescription medications that kill the mites. Treatment is a cream or lotion that is applied to the entire body from the neck down in most cases. It is left on for 8 to 14 hours and then washed off. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe pills to treat scabies. Treatment takes up to three days, depending on the medication used.

While prescriptions can kill scabies mites and their eggs, they don’t provide any immediate itch relief. To control itching, especially at night, antihistamine pills can help. Hydrocortisone cream may also help, but it can change the appearance of the scabies rash, making the condition harder to diagnose. It’s best to use this cream only after your doctor has confirmed the diagnosis.

When someone is diagnosed with scabies, anyone who has close physical contact with the person should also be treated. Close contact includes bathing together, sleeping in the same bed, or even holding hands. Doctors usually recommend treating all members of the household, even if symptoms are not present. (Remember, it can take four to six weeks for symptoms to appear.)

Scabies mites can live up to two to three days on the surface of clothes, bedding, or towels. To make sure these mites are killed, wash any sheets and clothing used by the affected person within the past three days. Wash the items in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer or take them to a dry-cleaner. Items that can’t be washed should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for seven days.

Scabies medications can kill the mites and eggs quickly, and patients can usually return to school or work 24 hours after starting treatment. However, the itch may persist for a few weeks. This is the result of an ongoing allergic reaction in the skin. If the itching continues for more than four weeks or a new rash appears, see your doctor. It may be necessary to reapply scabies medication.

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
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5)   Dr. P. Marazzi / Photo Researchers, Inc.
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17)   Lucianne Pashley/Age Fotostock
18)   Steven Errico/Photographer’s Choice
19)   Jim Craigmyle/Flirt

REFERENCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Delaware Department of Health and Human Services.
Peteducation.com.
The International Foundation for Dermatology.
The Nemours Foundation.

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Cat Mange and Scabies: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Reviewed by Vanesa Farmer, DVM on March 16, 2023

In this Article

• What Types of Mange Can Cats Have?
• How Can I Tell If My Cat Has Mange?
• What Is the Treatment for Mange in Cats?

Mange is a skin problem that affects many animals, including cats, but it’s not an illness. Mange is caused by tiny parasites called mites that bite your pet’s skin and cause itching, flaking, hair loss, and inflammation. 

Scabies is a specific type of mange that is associated with the Sarcoptes species of mite, which causes sarcoptic mange.

Mange is uncommon in cats, so owners don’t always recognize it right away. It is highly contagious and can spread between pets, so it’s important to treat mites as soon as you can. There are several medicines that can effectively get rid of mange. Your veterinarian can help you find the best one for your cat.

There are several types of mange mites, which are tiny arachnids that burrow under the top layers of skin and cause discomfort to the host. Adult mites can lay eggs under the skin.

There are several types of mange in cats:

• Canine Scabies (Sarcoptic Mange): Despite the word “canine” in the name, these mites can affect cats as well. Cats usually get them from an affected dog living in the same house. They cause sores, hair loss, and itching.
• Feline Scabies (Notoedric Mange): Feline scabies are a different parasite than canine scabies, but the symptoms they cause are similar.
• Ear Mites (Otodectic Mange): Ear mites burrow inside your cat’s ears. They tend to be found inside the ear canal, but they can also affect the outer ear. They cause itching and can result in damage to your cat’s eardrum.
• Walking Dandruff (Cheyletiellosis): These mites get their name because they are small and white and move around a pet’s body. They affect many types of housepets and can also affect humans.
• Trombiculosis: These mites are more commonly known as chiggers. They attach themselves to your cat’s skin and feed on blood before dropping off. They look like small, orange ovals, and they may appear on your cat’s head, paws, or belly.

Feline demodicosis, which can cause itching and hair loss in cats that are already sick, is caused by demodex mites and is classified as mange.

Most cat owners suspect mange because their cat is scratching themselves more than usual. Mites are itchy and uncomfortable, so your cat will do whatever they can for relief. They will lick, bite, or scratch the affected spots. 

Your cat’s attempts to stop the itching can worsen the problem by irritating their skin even more. The mites, along with the scratching, can result in hair loss and inflamed skin. You might see scaly patches of skin, sores, or scabs on your cat.

With ear mites, cats shake their heads and lay their ears flat to relieve discomfort inside their ear canals. You may be able to see a buildup of heavy ear wax and mite residue in your cat’s ears.

You may also notice that you are being bitten by mites. Some mange mites can get onto humans and cause itching, redness, and swelling. However, these mites can’t breed on humans, so it’s much easier to get rid of them on yourself than on your pet. Talk to your doctor about treating mite bites on your skin.

If you suspect your cat has mange, you will need to take them to the vet for diagnosis and treatment. Your vet will take skin scrapings from the affected area and look at them under a microscope for evidence of mange mites.

There are several treatments for mange in cats, including some that are commonly used for preventing fleas and heartworm. However, the dosing for mites may be different, so make sure to speak with your vet.

Your vet may also suggest special shampoos or soothing medicines for any sores on your cat’s skin.

If you have other pets at home, your vet might tell you to treat them for mites or to isolate any affected pets so the mites won’t spread. You should also ask your vet for cleaning tips. Mites can linger on your pet’s bed, toys, or collar, as well as your carpets and furniture.

If your cat gets mange, make sure to follow your vet’s suggestions for treatment and follow-up care. 

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Treatment of scabies in Moscow – prices, an appointment at the Yuzhny clinic

The most common skin disease among those caused by parasites is scabies. The cause of itching and changes on the skin in the form of an erythematous papulovesicular rash is a scabies mite – itching.

According to medical statistics, more than 300 million cases of infection occur annually worldwide. She gets sick not only in countries with a low standard of living, but also in the most progressive states in terms of medical provision.

Treatment of scabies involves isolating the patient from contact with others and the use of special anti-scabies ointments and preparations. It is divided into specific, preventive and trial.

specific method. It is used when the disease is identified and confirmed.

preventive method. It is prescribed to persons who have come into contact with an infected person.

trial method. Used when scabies is suspected. As a rule, it is used when the disease proceeds in a latent form.

How to identify?

Itching with scabies in humans occurs, as a rule, in the evening or in the first half of the night. This is due to the fact that female ticks living on the skin of an infected person become active at this time, gnaw passages in tissues, feed, lay eggs and excrete excrement.

If you or your friends have itching that occurs at this particular time of day, and red and indurated dots appear on the skin – especially where the hair follicles are located – you should immediately limit contact with others and immediately seek medical help.

The incubation period for scabies lasts about two weeks. It is during this time that the larva grows to the size of an adult tick, capable of causing considerable discomfort to its victim. If the cause of infection was not a larva, but an already formed female, then the first signs of the disease appear very quickly – the very next day.

Symptoms and signs

In adults and children, in men and women, in the elderly, the course of the disease and the signs of scabies are somewhat different. However, the most important symptom that appears in almost all forms is itching.

The second symptom that allows you to accurately diagnose the disease is the presence of an itch in the patient.

What scabies looks like

There are two forms of scabies: typical and atypical . The typical form involves “moves” characteristic of the tick and occurs in the same places. On the surface of the skin there are whitish-gray passages ranging in size from one millimeter to 1 centimeter. The tick is visible through the skin as a black dot. The disease is localized in places between the fingers, on the wrists from their inner side, in the elbows, on the folds of the limbs, around the nipples and on the genitals.

An atypical form is a deviation from the normal course of the disease. Patients experience:

1. The so-called “ hidden ” form. Absence of tick moves and other clinical signs.
2. Scabious lymphoplasia – soft itchy dark red bumps in the armpits, abdomen, genitals.
3. Scabious erythroderma – many small passages in atypical places and no pronounced itching. As a rule, it occurs in those who self-medicate, using unsuitable means for this.
4. “Clean” scabies , also called “incognito” – mildly manifested in those who overly follow personal hygiene, taking water procedures several times a day. The symptoms of the disease become minimal.
5. Norwegian – a severe form of the disease. It develops against the background of human immunodeficiency. Sometimes it is confused with psoriasis dermatitis due to a clear focus and whitish scales raised above the surface of the skin.
6. Complicated . There are signs of secondary pyoderma and dermatitis, sometimes – microbial eczema or urticaria.
7. Child . This form is characterized by a large spread of the process.
8. Scabies in the elderly . Single passages are observed, their intact variants predominate. Few vesicles and papules.

Diagnostics

From the point of view of domestic dermatology, the following typical symptoms of scabies are distinguished for diagnosing the disease:

1. Ardi’s symptom – pustules and crusts of pus are observed in the elbow area;
2. “Gorchakova” – the presence of bloody crusts;
3. “Michaelis” – in a patient in the intergluteal region and on the sacrum, crusts of clotted blood and an impetiginous rash appear;
4. “Cesari” – the final sign in the diagnosis – the presence of scabies that rise above the skin.

The doctor collects an anamnesis, examines the victim, finds out if there was contact with other patients, determines the presence of a tick and its larvae. The course is detected by applying an iodine solution to the skin or applying mineral oil and pressing with glass. Sometimes a microscope may be required for examination: the doctor takes samples of the affected tissue and examines them for signs of infection.

Treatment of scabies in Yuzhny clinic

In our institution, scabies has been successfully and effectively treated for many years. Qualified specialists have the latest equipment for diagnosing diseases and modern methods of therapy that do not contradict the standards of treatment adopted in Russia.

At the first signs of the disease, we recommend making an appointment with the doctors of the dermatological department of the Yuzhny clinic.

Which doctor should I contact?

The disease is treated by a dermatologist. After talking and examining the patient, the specialist prescribes treatment with anti-scabpocidic drugs that destroy the passages of ticks and kill them.

Scabies in adults

There are a large number of sebaceous glands in the areas of the neck, back and hair on the head. Therefore, in adults with scabies, as a rule, there are no passages in these places. For reproduction, mites need access to air, which is completely blocked by the produced sebum.

In children

It is much easier to get scabies in childhood than in adults. This is due to the fact that the skin of the child is much more tender, and the body is not yet strong. Therefore, scabies in children is common – they spend a lot of time in kindergartens, schools, and other institutions, where they become infected with various diseases from their peers. If quarantine measures are not taken in time, the disease can spread to the scale of a local epidemic.

Experts call a number of signs by which a parent may suspect scabies in a child:

1. Sleep disorders;
2. Capriciousness and weakness;
3. The appearance of cracks on the surface of the skin;
4. Itching in the evening and at night;
5. Pinkish or whitish rash.

Preparations and ointments for scabies

For the treatment of scabies, the attending physician usually prescribes the following drugs, the action of which is aimed at the destruction of the mites themselves, their eggs and larvae:

1. Benzyl benzoate as emulsion or ointment. It is prescribed for both adults and children from 3 to 7 years old, but in different concentrations (20% and 10%).
2. Spregal is an aerosol that does not require constant application and is applied once for mild forms of the disease and repeatedly for severe cases. The medicine is harmless and applies to all categories.
3. Sulfur ointment (33%) – used every day for a week. Dangerous for children under 3 years old, pregnant and lactating women.
4. Perimetrin (5%) – ointment, used in the evening before bedtime for 3 days. The drug is contraindicated in children under one year old, women during breastfeeding.
5. Crotamiton (10%) – also an ointment, is used every day until complete recovery.

To relieve itching, experts prescribe antihistamine tablets for scabies.

When treating and using external medicines, it is important to follow certain rules:

1. Skin must be clean before treatment;
2. No special equipment is required for application – all preparations are applied with washed hands with soap;
3. Bed linen is changed before the first medication and after the course is completed;
4. All persons who are close to the patient should also receive preventive treatment.

The specialist determines the choice of the drug, the duration of the course, the dosage based on the severity and type of the disease.

Prophylaxis

There are rules, following which, a person minimizes the risk of contracting a scabies mite after contact with a patient:

1. Bath, shower or sauna twice a day;
2. Use of laundry or tar soap;
3. Timely cutting of nails;
4. Having one sexual partner;
5. Hygiene items must be personal;
6. Regular handwashing;
7. Avoid using toilet paper, paper towels and other disposable and reusable items in public places;
8. Isolation of the patient in a separate ventilated room.

The infected person must be completely isolated from contact with people and suspended from visiting public places until complete recovery. At home, it is necessary to treat furniture and things that the infected person has come into contact with with antibacterial agents. For these purposes, anti-tick drugs are used.

Fabric items should be placed in airtight plastic bags for 3-5 days (the time during which female ticks die), and then washed.

All patients after recovery should be under dispensary observation – this allows you to avoid relapses, complications and prevent the spread of the disease.

As a preventive measure, medical institutions timely identify patients and establish the focus of an outbreak of the disease, organize and control measures for the disinfection of premises where infection has occurred.

Why we are trusted

We at Yuzhny Clinic have been successfully treating various types of diseases in Moscow since 1989 years old Behind us are tens of thousands of grateful patients who turned to the specialists of the clinic with their problems and received timely treatment.

An individual approach to each patient, a polite attitude, the use of modern and traditional methods, reasonable prices – this is what we meet with each patient.

We treat, not sell services. Therefore, people turn to us again and again, trusting the most precious thing that everyone has – health.

FAQ

Patients are concerned about many topics related to this disease. We have prepared answers to the most frequently asked questions. Before you ask a question, check if it has been answered below.

How long does it take for scabies?

It all depends on what drug the doctor prescribed, what stage the disease is in, the typical or atypical type of scabies in the patient.

On average, larvae die in 2-3 days during treatment, after 7-10 days the main symptoms of the disease disappear. Itching may continue for several days after therapy. If the itching has not stopped, new skin rashes have appeared – you have a relapse and you need to contact a dermatologist again.

What are the most effective ointments?

The most effective are considered to be permethrin, benzyl benzoate and sulfuric ointment. Medicines are effective only if they are used according to a given scheme, agreed with the attending physician.

Is it possible to be treated at home?

In no case. Remember that only a doctor can tell you how to treat scabies, diagnose it and prescribe certain drugs. Do not start the disease and seek medical help in time!

How is scabies contracted?

People who are in close contact with an itch patient are at risk. You can also get infected in public places – baths and saunas, toilets, hostels. The most susceptible to the disease are those who live with the victim under the same roof. The source of the disease is scabies itch – a mite that lays larvae in the skin. The more severe a disease is in a person, the more contagious it is.

Treatment of scabies | LDC №1 Lipetsk

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