Preface: Are you scabies free? Yes. Good! Good! Good! Maintain your family's hygiene and sanitation so as to avoid this malady. It is no laughing matter to get infected with scabies mites. This writer had been a victim once during his puberty days and had experienced scabies rash and scabies bites as truly disgusting and irritating. It's no joke spending sleepless nights, scratching the whole body especially when the itchiness is on. This hub is written and dedicated to those who are now suffering from the harmful effects of these bloodsuckers with the hope that they'll get cured soon and forever enjoy an abundant life free from scabies.
WHAT IS SCABIES? It's an intensely itchy, highly infectious parasitic skin disease. It is caused by the sarcoptes scabiei itch mite.
HOW IS SCABIES SPREAD? By direct skin contact especially during sexual activity or while sharing a bed. Far less often- it is spread by indirect contact such as sharing a towel or clothing. Scabies mites do not survive long when not on a human body.
HOW DO SCABIES REPRODUCE? The tiny female mite searches for places where the skin is thickest - especially the palms and soles. She then burrows tunnels under the skin into which she deposits her eggs- about 2 a day for 2 months. The larvae hatch in 2 to 4 days. Then they leave their mother's tunnel and cluster around hair follicles. The nymphs will mature within 2 weeks and begin a new life cycle.
what causes scabies rash? scabies rash is caused by a person's hypersensitivity to the eggs and to the waste products of the mites and larvae. Itchy rashes occur on the thighs, trunk, hands, feet, armpits and genital region. Itching is intermittent and can be quite severe.
WHAT MEDICINE TO BUY? (1) Derbac M (liquid) kills head lice, pubic lice and scabies mites. More info about Derbac M and treatmenthere. (2) Gamma Benzine Hexachloride, Malathion (Ovide) and lindane (Kwell) - They are available as prescription creams or lotion. CAUTION: These can cause skin irritation and nerve damage especially to infants and children; (3) Permethrin (NIX, Elimite) - These are milder but equally effective non-prescription drugs. In children under the age of 2 - a 5% permethrin cream or a 5 or 10% sulfur ointment might be used.
You can also treat itching with antihistamine medication such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and promethazine (Phenergan)
HOW TO USE THE MEDICINE? Whichever drug is prescribed- it should be applied to the entire body completely covering the skin from the neck down. It must be left on preferably 24 hours, before being washed off. Household members who have been in physical contact with the patient should be treated at the same time. Used clothing, towels and bed linens should be laundered in hot water. One treatment usually kill all mites and eggs- but a follow-up doctor's visit in a week or 2 is necessary if there's a need for retreatment. If itching is still severe, the doctor can prescribe a topical corticosteroid ointment to be applied twice a day.
Read viewers comments on ways to treat scabies, here.
