How does scabies manifest in different body areas. What are the telltale signs of scabies infestation. How can scabies be accurately diagnosed and effectively treated. What preventive measures can be taken against scabies.

Understanding Scabies: An Overview of the Skin Condition

Scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. These tiny parasites burrow into the upper layer of the skin, causing intense itching and a distinctive rash. The condition affects people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, making it a global health concern.

The primary mode of transmission is through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. This often occurs between family members, sexual partners, or in crowded living conditions. The mites can also spread through sharing contaminated bedding, clothing, or towels, although this is less common.

Key Facts About Scabies

• Scabies mites can survive for 24-36 hours off the human body
• The incubation period ranges from 2-6 weeks for first-time infections
• Subsequent infections may show symptoms within 1-4 days
• Scabies is not a result of poor hygiene
• The condition requires medical treatment and cannot resolve on its own

Recognizing Scabies: Symptoms and Affected Areas

The hallmark symptom of scabies is intense itching, particularly at night. This is accompanied by a rash that can manifest in various ways depending on the affected area and the duration of the infestation. Understanding the typical presentation of scabies in different body regions is crucial for early detection and treatment.

Common Sites of Scabies Infestation

While scabies can affect any part of the body, certain areas are more commonly involved:

• Hands and fingers, especially between the digits
• Wrists and elbows
• Armpits
• Waist and belt line
• Groin and genital area
• Breasts, particularly under the nipples in women
• Buttocks
• Knees and feet

In infants and young children, scabies may also affect the scalp, face, neck, and palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

Characteristic Signs of Scabies

Are there specific visual clues that indicate a scabies infestation? Indeed, several distinctive features can help identify scabies:

1. Burrows: Thin, grayish-white or skin-colored lines that are slightly raised. These represent the tunnels created by female mites as they lay eggs.
2. Rash: Small, red, itchy bumps that often appear in a line or track.
3. Nodules: Larger, reddish-brown bumps that can persist for weeks or months, even after treatment.
4. Excoriation: Scratch marks and small cuts due to intense itching.
5. Secondary infections: Pustules or crusty sores may develop if bacteria enter the damaged skin.

Scabies in the Groin Area: A Closer Look

The groin is one of the most commonly affected areas in scabies infestations. This region provides an ideal environment for mites due to its warm, moist nature and thin skin. Scabies in the groin can be particularly distressing and may be mistaken for other conditions.

Identifying Scabies in the Groin

How does scabies manifest in the groin area? The presentation can vary, but typically includes:

• Intense itching, often worse at night
• A rash consisting of small, red, raised bumps
• Linear burrows, which may be difficult to see due to scratching
• Genital involvement, including the scrotum in males and vulva in females
• Potential spread to nearby areas such as the inner thighs and buttocks

It’s important to note that scabies in the groin can be confused with other conditions such as jock itch, eczema, or allergic reactions. Therefore, professional medical evaluation is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Diagnostic Approaches for Scabies

Accurate diagnosis of scabies is essential for effective treatment and preventing spread. Healthcare providers use a combination of methods to confirm a scabies infestation.

Clinical Examination

The first step in diagnosing scabies is a thorough physical examination. The healthcare provider will look for characteristic signs such as:

• The presence of burrows, especially in typical locations
• A distinctive rash pattern
• Evidence of scratching and secondary infections

Microscopic Identification

Can scabies mites be directly observed? Yes, definitive diagnosis often involves microscopic examination of skin scrapings. This process, known as a mineral oil mount, involves:

1. Scraping the affected skin area with a scalpel
2. Placing the scrapings on a slide with mineral oil
3. Examining the slide under a microscope to identify mites, eggs, or fecal matter

While this method is highly specific, it may yield false negatives due to the small number of mites present in typical scabies infestations.

Dermatoscopy

Dermatoscopy is a non-invasive technique that uses a special magnifying device to examine the skin surface. This method can help visualize burrows and even the mites themselves, appearing as tiny dark triangles at the end of burrows.

Treatment Options for Scabies

Once diagnosed, scabies requires prompt treatment to alleviate symptoms and prevent transmission. Several effective treatment options are available, typically involving topical or oral medications.

Topical Treatments

What are the most common topical treatments for scabies? The following medications are frequently prescribed:

• Permethrin 5% cream: Considered the first-line treatment, it’s safe for use in adults and children over 2 months old.
• Malathion 0.5% lotion: An alternative for those who don’t respond to permethrin.
• Benzyl benzoate 25% lotion: Used in some countries, but may cause skin irritation.
• Sulfur ointment: An older treatment that’s safe for use during pregnancy and in young infants.

These treatments are typically applied from the neck down and left on for 8-14 hours before being washed off. A second application is often recommended after 7-14 days to ensure complete eradication of the mites.

Oral Medication

In some cases, particularly for severe or resistant infestations, oral medication may be prescribed:

• Ivermectin: A single dose is often effective, with a second dose given after 1-2 weeks. This medication is not approved for use in pregnant women or children weighing less than 15 kg.

Managing Symptoms and Complications

In addition to anti-scabies treatments, management may include:

• Antihistamines to reduce itching
• Topical steroids to manage inflammation
• Antibiotics if secondary bacterial infections are present

Preventing Scabies Transmission and Reinfestation

Effective treatment of scabies extends beyond individual medication to include measures that prevent reinfestation and transmission to others. These steps are crucial in breaking the cycle of infestation, particularly in household or institutional settings.

Environmental Decontamination

How can the living environment be effectively decontaminated? Follow these guidelines:

• Machine wash all clothing, bedding, and towels used in the 3 days before treatment in hot water (at least 50°C) and dry on high heat
• Items that can’t be washed should be sealed in plastic bags for at least 72 hours
• Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture thoroughly
• Consider using permethrin spray on non-washable items like mattresses

Treating Close Contacts

To prevent reinfestation and further spread, all household members and close physical contacts should be treated simultaneously, even if they don’t show symptoms. This includes:

• Family members living in the same household
• Sexual partners
• Recent overnight guests

Follow-up and Monitoring

After treatment, it’s important to monitor for signs of persistent or recurrent infestation. Keep in mind:

• Itching may persist for several weeks after successful treatment due to residual skin irritation
• New burrows or persistent symptoms after 2-4 weeks may indicate treatment failure or reinfestation
• A follow-up examination may be necessary to confirm cure

Special Considerations in Scabies Management

While the general principles of scabies management apply broadly, certain populations require special consideration due to unique risk factors or treatment limitations.

Crusted (Norwegian) Scabies

Crusted scabies is a severe form of the infestation that occurs primarily in immunocompromised individuals. It is characterized by:

• Thick, crusted lesions containing thousands to millions of mites
• Higher contagiousness due to the large number of mites
• Resistance to standard treatments

Management of crusted scabies often requires:

• Combination therapy with both topical and oral medications
• Repeated treatments
• Aggressive environmental decontamination
• Isolation precautions in healthcare settings

Scabies in Pregnancy and Infancy

Treatment of scabies during pregnancy and in young infants requires careful consideration of medication safety. Permethrin 5% cream is generally considered safe for use in these populations. However, oral ivermectin and some other topical treatments are contraindicated.

Institutional Outbreaks

Scabies outbreaks in institutions such as nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons pose unique challenges. Effective management in these settings involves:

• Prompt identification and treatment of all affected individuals
• Prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic contacts
• Coordinated treatment timing to prevent reinfestation
• Thorough environmental decontamination
• Education of staff and residents about scabies prevention and control

By understanding the complexities of scabies management in various populations and settings, healthcare providers can tailor their approach to ensure effective treatment and prevent further spread of this challenging infestation.

Scabies Images — DermNet

DermNet provides Google Translate, a free machine translation service. Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages

Go to topic page

Numerous palmar scabies burrows in an elderly lady

Interdigital scaling in the first web space of the hand

Interdigital scale, crusting and a burrow on the hand

Papular lesions in the 4th interdigital space on the hand

Interdigital scale and papules in scabies

A scabies egg extracted from a burrow

Groin and abdominal papules and pustules in scabies

Infected lesions in scabies

Scabies nodules on the buttocks

A scabies burrow

Lichenification and pigmentation from scratching due to scabies

A scabies mite on microscopy after extraction from a burrow

A scabies mite on microscopy

Scabies affecting the neck and face in an infant

Limb lesions in crusted scabies

Scabies burrows on the palm

A non specific secondary eruption due to scabies

Forehead lesions due to crusted scabies on the body

Blisters and erosions in scabies

Papular lesons over the trunk in scabies

Crusted lesions on the trunk in extensive chronic scabies

Axillary scabies nodules in an infant

Gross hyperkeratosis in crusted scabies on the feet

A dark scabies mite at the end of a burrow on dermoscopy

Scabies burrows on dermoscopy

Erythematous papules on the penis in scabies

Scrotal scabies nodules

Scabies nodules on the foreskin and thighs

Scabies with superadded streptococcal infection

Pyococcal infection of scabies on the hand

Burrows, vesicles and pustules on the palm in childhood scabies

Papules and nodules on the limbs in scabies

Infected lesions on the limbs in scabies

Papular lesions on the leg in scabies mimicing a follicluitis

Pustular lesions in infected scabies

Severe excoriation due to scabetic itch

Papular lesions on the trunk in scabies

Infected scabies on the foot

Crusted scabies over the trunk

Scabies nodules, some ulcerated over the buttocks with secondary bacterial infection

Papules on the fingers and interdigital spaces in scabies

A burrow on the palm – the mite can just be seen adjacent to the vesicle

A scabies burrow on the toe

Scabies burrows on a babies foot

Crusted scabies with nail dystrophy

Scabies nodules in the axilla

Burrows and vesicles on the palm in scabies

Go to topic page

Scabies

Image supplied by Dr T Evans

Penile papules due to scabies

Penile papules due to scabies

Penile papules due to scabies

Penile papules due to scabies

Interdigital burrows due to scabies

Penile papules due to scabies

Severe crusted scabies

Nonspecific scabies rash

Palmar burrows due to scabies

Palmar burrows due to scabies

Dermoscopy of scabies burrow

Dermoscopy of scabies burrow

Infected burrows in crusted scabies

Excoriations in scabies

Excoriations in scabies

Penile papules due to scabies

Interdigital burrows due to scabies

Go to topic page

On DermNet NZ

• Scabies

What is scabies? Images, symptoms, and treatment

Scabies is a skin condition that can cause itching and a rash. It is caused by a microscopic mite. It can occur at any age and spreads through physical contact. Topical medications, such as permethrin cream, can treat it.

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

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 should all receive treatment at the same time.

In this article, learn about what scabies looks like, its symptoms, its causes, and some of its treatment options.

Scabies affects around 200 million people worldwide at any one time. These are people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic statuses.

Scabies is highly contagious, spreading easily through close physical contact and by sharing bedding, clothing, and furniture items infested with mites.

Scabies most often occurs in children and young adults, with outbreaks common in childcare facilities and schools.

Share on PinterestScabies infestation on the hands.
Photography by DermNet New ZealandShare on PinterestScabies is classically known to cause intense itching and a rash in the spaces between the fingers.
Photography courtesy of Gzzz/Wikimedia

The onset of scabies symptoms varies depending on whether or not a person has previously had exposure to mites. The first time a person has exposure to the scabies mite, it can take 4–8 weeks for symptoms to develop.

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

Some symptoms of scabies include:

• Itching: This is often worse at night, and it 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 present in skin folds. The rash may look like 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 the skin. Open sores can lead to impetigo, which is commonly caused by a secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Thick crusts: Crusted scabies is a form of severe scabies in which hundreds to thousands of mites and mite eggs are present within skin crusts. This causes severe skin symptoms.

Most often, people with crusted scabies exhibit widespread gray, thick, and crumbling crusts. Mites living in the detached crusts can live for more than a week without needing human contact due to the food provided by the crusts themselves.

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

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

Infants and young children tend to experience infestations 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 that covers the majority of the body.

Infants with scabies tend to exhibit symptoms of irritability as well as sleeping and eating difficulties.

How long does scabies last?

Scabies mites can live for 1–2 months on children and adults. When they are not on people, mites only survive for up to 72 hours.

Treatment with prescribed medications generally kills mites quickly. The itching and rash that scabies causes may initially become worse, but the skin should heal within 4 weeks.

If the symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks, scabies mites may still be present. To get rid of the mites thoroughly, some people may need to receive treatment two or three times.

Scabies is an infestation with the Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis mite, which is 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 that mites affect. Mites can also affect dogs and cats. However, each species hosts a different species of mite, and while humans may experience a mild, transient skin reaction to contact with animal mites, a full-scale human infection with animal mites is rare.

Scabies is highly contagious and spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or by using a towel, piece of bedding, or furniture item infested with the mites. Because of this, some of the most likely people to experience an infestation include:

• children attending daycare or school
• parents or caregivers of young children
• sexually active young adults
• people with multiple sexual partners
• residents of extended care facilities
• older adults
• people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV, transplant recipients, and others taking immunosuppressant medications

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

Doctors generally treat scabies with topical medications such as 5% permethrin cream, crotamiton cream, or lindane lotion. In some cases, a 25% benzyl benzoate lotion or 10% sulfur ointment may be necessary.

For most topical preparations, people should apply them at night, leave them on during sleep, wash them off in the morning.

In the meantime, if they can, the person should wash all sheets, towels, and clothing they have recently used. If it is impossible to wash a particular item, the person should put it in a sealed bag and leave it out for 3–5 days.

Ivermectin, which is an oral medication, may be a good option for people with weakened immune systems, those with crusted scabies, or those who do not respond to topical therapy.

People should not use ivermectin during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Children weighing under 33 pounds (15 kilograms) should also avoid this medication.

A doctor might prescribe other medications — including antihistamines, anti-itching lotions such as pramoxine lotion, antibiotics, and steroid creams — to offer relief from symptoms.

Tests and diagnosis

A person can sometimes mistake scabies 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 contact a doctor, as over-the-counter remedies cannot eradicate scabies.

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

Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis most commonly affects humans. The sections below look at some different mite species and some types of scabies infestations.

Species of mites

The scabies mite that affects humans belongs to the Sarcoptidae family, which contains three subfamilies: Sarcoptinae, Teinocoptinae, and Diabolicoptinae.

Altogether, the entire scabies mite family includes 118 species, and these affect the skin of different mammals. When scabies affects animals, the condition is known as sarcoptic mange.

Types of scabies infestations

The human scabies mite can affect people in different ways, as follows:

• Typical scabies: The most common type, this infestation causes itchiness on the hands, wrists, and other areas, but not on the face or scalp.
• Nodular scabies: This causes itchy, raised bumps that usually develop in the armpits or around the genital area.
• Crusted scabies: People with typical scabies who have weakened immune systems may develop this type. It produces thick, gray crusts of skin that contain thousands of scabies mites. It is extremely contagious.

If a person scratches or rubs their skin to relieve the intense itching of a scabies infestation, it may create skin sores.

Should these open sores become infected with bacteria on the skin, such as S. aureus, it could lead to serious conditions, such as heart disease, kidney disease, or blood poisoning.

People can prevent scabies infestations by limiting contact with the skin of someone who already has one and items such as their bedding or clothing.

However, this may be difficult when it comes to members of the same household or people who are in close proximity to someone with an infestation, as that person can sometimes be symptom-free for as long as 4–8 weeks.

To prevent subsequent infestations and spreading, a person should wash or dry-clean all clothes, towels, and linens. When doing so, they should use hot, soapy water and dry on a high heat. People should place any items that they cannot wash into a sealed plastic bag for at least 3 days to starve the mites.

People should also vacuum the entire home — including carpets, rugs, and upholstery — on the day that treatment is initiated and either discard the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum’s canister.

If a person has any concerns that they may have or may be at risk of experiencing scabies, they should speak with a doctor.

Read the article in Spanish.

Skin itching. Systemic diseases as the cause of skin itching – St. Petersburg State Budgetary Institution of Health “Dermatovenerologic Dispensary No. 4”

Itching is one of the forms of the skin analyzer, close to other types of skin sensations, such as touch, pain. Some researchers regard itching not as an independent sensation, but as a modified sense of pain. In areas of the skin devoid of the epidermis, itching is absent. Reflex actions leading to a temporary reduction in the sensation of itching include scratching, stroking, rubbing, pressure, pinching, kneading, and warming. Severe itching is relieved only by severe self-damage of the skin, resulting in the sensation of itching being replaced by a feeling of pain.

Due to the subjectivity of pruritus, the difficulty of its precise definition, the mechanism of pruritus is largely unclear. Itching is the second most common reason for a patient to visit a dermatologist.

The causes of itching are extremely varied.

Firstly, it acts as a subjective symptom of many skin diseases (fungal infection, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, eczema, lichen planus, scabies, etc.) Itching is a signal of danger, an undesirable effect on the body as a protective reaction to bites of blood-sucking insects and various skin impurities.

Secondly, itching can occur as an independent disease.

Thirdly, itching can be a symptom of various diseases of internal organs, including latent ones (diabetes mellitus, myxedema, iron deficiency anemia, psychoneurosis, liver disease, leukemia, malignant neoplasms, chronic renal failure, helminthiasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive paralysis , multiple sclerosis, stroke, gout). In some diseases, itching has a certain prognostic and diagnostic significance. In chronic cholestasis, which accompanies many liver diseases (cirrhosis, extrahepatic obstruction of the bile ducts, hepatitis of various etiologies), itching is one of the most painful and most constant symptoms for the patient. The development of intrahepatic cholestasis and therefore itching is promoted by drugs: phenothiazines, erythromycin, anabolic steroids, testosterone, oral contraceptives, progesterone. Aspirin, quinidine, B vitamins and nicotinamide can cause itching without any skin rash. With primary biliary cirrhosis, itching is observed in 100% and in 50% of patients it is a reason to see a doctor. The disappearance of itching in liver diseases in some cases is a poor prognostic sign indicating liver failure. The cause of itching in liver diseases is considered to be an increase in the level of bile salts in plasma. Itching can occur with cholestasis of pregnant women in the later stages and completely disappear after childbirth.

Separate forms of generalized pruritus include senile pruritus, altitude and caisson pruritus. Senile pruritus is more often observed in men aged 60-70 years. It is painful, worse at night. On the skin, as a rule, there are no scratches, “polishing” and thinning of the free edge of the nail plates are observed. The causes of senile itching are varied (atherosclerosis, decreased activity and atrophy of the intestinal glands, prostatic hypertrophy, degenerative changes in peripheral nerve endings, atrophic processes in the epidermis, sebaceous, sweat glands, dermis, xerosis).

Altitude pruritus is observed in some people when climbing to an altitude of 8000-10000 m or more and is one of the symptoms of altitude sickness. Itching that occurs when immersed in water is a manifestation of decompression sickness (caisson itch).

Voynilko M.V.

Treatment, diagnosis and prevention of scabies in Kyiv ≡ Blog MED CITY

Scabies is one of the most ancient and widespread diseases. Despite the fact that, according to statistics, scabies is most common in countries with a tropical hot climate, in our latitudes this disease is also diagnosed, although quite rarely. According to common signs, scabies is a rash that appears as a result of the invasion of small mites, the females of which lay larvae in the upper layers of the epidermis.

The main causative agent of scabies is the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which can only be transmitted by direct contact with an infected person. The incubation period of scabies is quite long and can be more than a month, after which a rash appears on the body and a state of discomfort caused by constant itching, hence the name of the disease.

At the first signs and suspicion of a disease such as scabies, the help of a professional dermatologist is urgently needed. One of the best dermatological centers in Ukraine is the Med City clinic, located in Kyiv. The center offers accurate diagnosis of scabies and other skin diseases using modern equipment and treatment by qualified specialists with many years of experience at an affordable price.

Ways of transmission and causes of scabies

According to recorded cases, scabies is transmitted only through direct person-to-person contact, by touching infected skin. Therefore, scabies often becomes a problem in crowded places. Scabies is especially common in children who have been in groups for a long time. Therefore, the prevention of scabies, regular examinations by parents and caregivers, frequent change of bed linen and other precautions are extremely important.

The main causes of scabies are the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, or rather its female fertilized individuals, which make moves in the upper layers of the epidermis and lay eggs. The possibility of infection only by direct contact is due to the fact that the tick is sensitive to the environment outside the human body and lives for several days.

From the eggs laid, larvae appear within 2-3 days, and only after a few weeks, adults appear from them, which begin to spread, provoking the first signs of scabies.

Signs of scabies at an early stage

The first signs of scabies, as a rule, appear already at the stage of deposition of mite eggs and the appearance of larvae. At the initial stage, an infected person may observe a slight rash around the wrist, on the foot or hand, especially between the fingers. At the very beginning, scabies resembles hives and manifests itself in the form of small red spots. It should be remembered that from the first day of infection until the first symptoms of scabies appear, it can take from a week to a month, therefore, if signs are found, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.

Symptoms of scabies and its manifestations

An accurate diagnosis of scabies is carried out by laboratory methods as prescribed by a doctor, but the likelihood of contracting this particular disease can be determined by a set of signs.

Scabies has the following symptoms, which appear simultaneously:

• Severe itching, especially in the evening and at night, since it is during this period that increased activity of mites is observed when the carrier is in a calm state;
• Rash that is localized in one or more places. It resembles small pimples that, when bursting, leave red spots;
• Barely visible passages on the skin are the tunnels through which the female tick passes to lay her eggs.

The main types of scabies

Despite the fact that the causative agent of scabies is the same type of mites, in medicine there is a classification of this disease, which is based on the method of infection and variants of the manifestation of pathology.

There are such types of scabies:

• Classic scabies. Infection occurs in the traditional way, through the ingestion of fertilized female ticks, which dig passages in the epidermis and lay eggs;
• Scabies without moves. The case when, as a result of contact, a person acquires already mature larvae on the skin. It is expressed only by single red pimples on the body. After that, the given species can pass into the classical phase;
• Crust or Norwegian scabies. An advanced and severe stage of the disease, which may be due to the inability of the immune system to cope with wound healing. The number of mites can be in the hundreds of thousands, the patient’s skin emits an unpleasant odor, large red foci with crusts and scaly plaques spread throughout the body;
• Clean scabies. This stage of the disease occurs when an infected person tries to frequently take water procedures, washing and cleaning the affected areas with ticks. At the same time, it is impossible to get rid of scabies;
• Pseudosarcoptic mange. Tick ​​infestation from animals. Such types of ticks do not live on the human body for a long time, and infection from person to person is also impossible.

Treatment methods for scabies

There is only one way to treat scabies – a clinic with professional dermatologists and in no case self-therapy or traditional methods. The cost of treatment depends on the type of disease, the stage and size of the affected areas by ticks.

Rapid treatment of scabies includes the use of a complex of intensive measures that include properly selected therapy that combines oral preparations and external agents:

• Acaricidal ointments containing chemical elements for disinfection against small insects. Before rubbing into the skin, the doctor may recommend cleansing the surface layer to facilitate disinfection of the epidermis;
• Antiparasitic oral agents. The most common is ivermectin;
• Vitamin complexes, means to strengthen the immune system.

In addition, all additional doctor’s prescriptions should be observed: washing, sterilization and processing of outerwear, bed linen and other items in the area of ​​direct contact.

The dosage of drugs is prescribed by a doctor, do not take oral and topical agents on your own. Especially strictly it is necessary to observe the rules of treatment in children. Scabies during pregnancy requires gentle therapy and the appointment of drugs that will not harm the child, taking into account the contraindications of the mother.

On the basis of the Med City clinic in Kyiv, experienced dermatologists work, who carry out laboratory diagnostics using innovative equipment and quickly treat scabies.

Prevention of scabies in children and adults

Treatment of scabies is usually intermittent. This is necessary in order to stretch the therapy in time and destroy ticks at all stages of development – from an adult in the first stages of therapy to eggs, which can relapse if the wrong approach is taken. To avoid recurrence, scabies prevention is also mandatory.

Preventive measures include:

• examination of family members and close contacts;
• disinfection of things in the home and workplace;
• strict adherence to hygiene standards;
• control of nutrition and exclusion of alcohol during treatment.

Laboratory diagnosis of scabies

Often, for the diagnosis of scabies, a clinical picture is sufficient, which includes not only a visual examination by a dermatologist, but also the treatment of affected areas with iodine to detect moves in classic scabies.

Another and the most reliable way to diagnose scabies is microscopic laboratory examination. Scraping of the area affected by mites is performed, especially the scabies for the detection of eggs, mites or fecal balls.

The laboratory of the clinic “Med City” offers a wide range of studies of infectious and invasive skin diseases at an affordable price in Kyiv with an accurate diagnosis and further effective treatment.

FAQ

Is it possible to quickly treat scabies?

Treatment of scabies, which is prescribed by a doctor after diagnosis, averages from a week to 10 days. It is important not to stop the course of treatment in order to avoid relapses.

Can scabies spread all over the body?

Most often, scabies on the body occurs on the limbs: the foot, between the fingers or toes, the wrist, on the genitals. However, over time, scabies can spread throughout the body, especially in children.