Treatment of Scabies

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Scabies is highly contagious; it affects adults as well as children. Having scabies does not mean that there is a lack of hygiene, and there is no reason to be ashamed. However it must be treated quickly to avoid contaminating all the family. Once diagnosed by a physician, scabies can be treated within 48 hours.

Scabies, what is it?

Scabies is an infection caused by a parasite also known as mites, which are tiny insects of the Sarcoptidae family. This condition is very common in cosmopolitan areas. However, the number of new cases has been decreasing since 1985.

What happens is that the female mite digs a tunnel in the outermost layer of skin and lays her eggs. The saliva of the parasite causes a reaction of severe itching.

The main risk factor of contamination is direct contact, such as in nurseries, schools, and within the family. The environment of the parasite is strictly human, and thus the transmission is purely inter-human by direct skin contact through the sharing of bedding, clothing or during intercourse.

The signs of the disease

The incubation period of the disease, which is the timeframe between the infection and the appearance of the first symptoms, varies from a few days up to several weeks.

Itching dominates the clinical picture and often motivates the patient to consult his doctor, as it can be quite severe. The main symptoms are of varying intensity but have specific characteristics: the patient's relatives (community, family) are also scratching, itching is exacerbated at night and takes place in designated areas of the body: between fingers, wrists, anterior forearm, elbow folds, areole of the breasts, navel, waist, triangle buttocks and inner buttocks. The back and the face are usually spared, except in the case of infants where itching often occurs in the palms of hands and on the feets.

Then, ferocious itching, especially at night, and small streaks and blisters on the skin of the hands and feet mainly, let us diagnose scabies. The treatment can begin. It consists of washes, sprays or creams, of the treatment of excoriations and secondary infections throughout the body.

A few important precautions to take

Be careful to follow the directions and instructions of the manufacturer when applying the treatment for scabies. Benzyl benzoate and sprays can be used from 6 months old. Lindane is not recommended and should definitely not be used for children younger than 2 years. Some products are also not suitable for pregnant women. And when applying these products, make sure you always take the following precautions:
* protect the patient's eyes
* do not forget to put on disposable plastic gloves for the treatment
* do not forget to treat the scalp.

Parents and siblings in daily contact with the infected person should be treated, even if they do not show symptoms. So do not forget the baby-sitter and nanny, if any. It is the same for other people who are in daily contact with the infected person.

You should also treat your home. Everything must be disinfected: bedding, clothing, towels. 24 hours are generally sufficient to eradicate the parasite. It is the length of survival of the scabies away from humans. The scratch marks can however request a longer treatment.

Another common condition that has nothing to do with personal hygiene is head lice. They are small insects that live only on humans and also cause itching symptoms, but will only live on the scalp. And head lice affect mainly children. Just like scabies it must be treated right away as it can also be contagious and spread through direct contact.



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Categories: allergies