Scabies is a skin infection caused by small parasites in the skin. Among the main symptoms you can notice constant itching that lasts up to two weeks after the parasite has been eradicated. The disease can create severe discomfort and sometimes hospitalization is also required; it is therefore important to understand if you are affected, in order to intervene promptly. The best way to treat it is to avoid close contact with those affected, know how they can contract and identify the symptoms. Get immediate treatment if you suffer from it, as it could infect people close to you.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Avoid Close Contact with Other Patients
Step 1. Avoid contact with the skin of people who have contracted the infection
This is the most direct way to get sick with scabies; if someone is affected, do not get too close until they have been treated.
- In order for scabies to be transmitted, contact must be prolonged; therefore, simple gestures such as a handshake rarely spread the disease from one person to another.
- Prolonged physical contacts, such as hugs or sharing confined spaces, are the main culprits of a possible contagion.
- Sexual intercourse is a fairly common way of spreading the infection; if you have had sex with a person with scabies, seek medical attention immediately.
Step 2. Avoid prolonged contact with surfaces that have scabies mites
These parasites can only live 48-72 hours away from the host; avoid getting close to clothing, blankets or sheets that have been touched by an infected person.
- Towels can also be contaminated, as they come into very direct contact with the sick; therefore avoid handling them without wearing gloves.
- Sheets and bedding can contain parasites; remove them from the mattress and wash them immediately in the washing machine - you should take this precaution from the first day of treatment.
- Don't forget about clothing, as they definitely contain scabies mites; any clothing worn in the past 72 hours by the infected person can retain parasites and should be washed.
Step 3. Thoroughly wash or isolate any contaminated material
It is important to clean or quarantine surfaces that may contain the tiny parasites to stop the spread of the infection.
- If possible, wash anything that has come into contact with patients. Set up a wash cycle with the hottest water possible and put your clothes in the dryer at the highest temperature.
- You can also take anything that came into contact with the sick person to a laundry; be sure to inform the clerks of the presence of the mites so that they take the necessary precautions to protect themselves.
- If you can't wash infected materials, keep them away from others; insulate them by placing them in a hermetically sealed plastic bag, avoiding as much air as possible; keep them sealed for at least a week.
- Items that have not been in contact with the skin for more than a week probably should not be washed.
Part 2 of 3: Know Your Contagion Risk
Step 1. Be cautious if you are in a group where there may be a risk of getting the infection
Some groups or people are more prone to get sick with scabies, mainly because they are more exposed to mutual direct skin contact, which is the only way to contract the infection; if you belong to one or more of these categories, you need to pay special attention and identify the symptoms of scabies.
- Children are particularly prone to getting sick, as they spend a lot of time in shared environments, the ideal places for the spread of the disease.
- Mothers of young children are also very susceptible to the infection, because they catch it from their children before spreading it to others.
- Sexually active people can get sick, as scabies can be contracted more easily during prolonged contact with the skin of an infected person.
- People living in nursing homes or similar environments can get sick, because they share confined spaces and are therefore more exposed to parasites.
- Inmates, like inmates, are also at high risk.
Step 2. Be aware of your risk level of contracting scabies due to an environmental factor
This disease does not spread in dirty environments, mites simply tend to remain on human skin, this means that some environments, such as those described below, are more conducive to this type of infestation:
- University dormitories are typical places where it is possible to contract the infection, as many people live in close contact; spaces like public restrooms are the easiest to get sick in.
- Nursing homes are other environments at risk; Since many people live in confined spaces, parasites can easily spread between residents.
- Kindergartens and kindergartens are other places where it is possible to contract scabies; not because children are dirty, but because an infected person can easily infect others through direct skin contact.
- Classrooms are also environments where the infection can spread, because children continue to enter and leave rooms and remain close to each other for a long time.
- Summer camps are other places where it is easy to get infected; having more people in a limited space can spread scabies.
Step 3. Know that animals cannot be the source of the infection
Although they may be infested with other ticks or mites, they cannot spread scabies to humans; skin-to-skin contact with other people is the only way to catch the disease.
- In dogs, scabies is called mange; it causes people a slight itchy sensation that disappears quickly.
- Take your loyal friend to the vet if they experience symptoms of this infection, such as itching or hair loss.
- Scabies in dogs cannot be passed on to people; if you are affected, the "responsible" is another human being and not your dog, even if he has mange.
Part 3 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Scabies
Step 1. Identify the symptoms
Scabies has several disorders of varying severity; recognizing them doesn't necessarily help you avoid infection, but it can be helpful if you want to proceed with treatment.
- Itching is the symptom that occurs at night; it is the main complaint and can be so intense that it keeps the person awake during the night.
- Many people who have contracted the infection have rashes that appear as small, usually aligned, bumps that look like tiny insect bites, lumps, or even pimples, and which can be confused with eczema due to similar characteristics.
- Skin lesions caused by scabies are to be attributed solely to the fact of scratching excessively; once the ulcer has formed, the risk of infection increases exponentially, as staphylococcal and streptococcal bacteria can colonize the wound.
- When the patient contracts a severe form of scabies, the skin can become covered with a thick crust that contains hundreds or even thousands of mites, their eggs and which intensifies the itching terribly; in this case, the rash is even more extreme.
Step 2. Pay attention to particular areas
Be aware that some areas of the body are more susceptible to this infestation because mites prefer them over others.
- Parasites often attack the hands, especially the area between the fingers and around the nails.
- The arms are one of the areas where the infection is present most frequently; the elbows and wrists are particularly vulnerable.
- The skin covered with clothing is often infected. The most affected points are the waist, the penis, the butt and the skin surrounding the nipples; in any case, any part covered by clothing or jewelry becomes fertile ground for this infestation.
- In children, the infection often occurs on the scalp, face, neck, palms and soles of the feet.
Step 3. If you become infected, seek treatment immediately
This is a serious infection that, if left untreated, can be passed on to other individuals with skin contact alone.
- If a person has scabies, take them to the dermatologist right away. Not only is hospitalization necessary in severe cases, but the disease is not curable without prescription drugs.
- To eradicate the infestation, doctors often prescribe creams, such as those with 3% permethrin and lindane lotion; in severe cases, such as crusted scabies, oral medications such as ivermectin should also be taken.
- If left untreated, this disease continues to spread in risky environments; if you are concerned that you have contracted it, go to the doctor immediately to avoid infecting other people.
