Sarcoptes scabiei is a parasitic mite that burrows under your skin causing scabies. Scabies is a contagious itchy skin rash that can occur anywhere on your skin. Scabies can spread quickly in congested areas such as nursing homes, hospitals, and within entire families. Scabies is so contagious that doctors advise entire families to undergo treatment for the skin condition.
Symptoms
The affected skin will show burrow tracks, which are S-shaped tracks under the skin, and red bite marks that may appear like pimples. The burrows normally appear in folds of skin such as between fingers, around the waist, on the inner elbow, on buttocks, knees and inside wrists. On children the affected area can be on the scalp, face, neck and soles of feet. The itching of the affected area is worse at night.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will do an examination of the affected area and will take a scraping from the area to examine under a microscope. The doctor will look for the sarcoptes scabiei mite or its eggs.
Treatment
Prescription creams are normally prescribed to treat scabies. Elimite and Eurax are the two most commonly prescribed. The creams are applied to the entire body and left on for 8 or more hours. These creams kill the sarcoptes scabiei mite quickly, but the itching can remain for several weeks. Over-the-counter itch medications can help alleviate the itching. Entire families should be treated regardless if any symptoms are noticed, as scabies is very contagious. Scratching the affected area can cause a bacterial infection that is treated with an antibiotic ointment or antibiotic pills.
Home Remedies
Itching may persist for several weeks after treatment, but there are ways to find relief. Take cool baths and apply calamine lotion to the affected areas. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl help to lessen the itch.
Prevention
It is hard to prevent scabies, but if you have an affected person in your household, person-to-person contact should be avoided until that person has been treated. Wash all clothes, towels and linens used by the infected person in hot water and dry on high heat. Items that can’t be washed should be put in a sealed plastic bag and put aside for at least a couple of weeks. The mites will die when they can’t eat for a week. Cut and clean your nails as mites can hide under your nails. Vacuum carpet, rugs and furniture and clean the car interior. Throw away the vacuum bag when finished.