Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by the itch mite “Sarcoptes scabiei”. Scabies is caused by a tiny insect about 0.3 mm long called a mite. When a human comes in contact with the female mite, the mite burrows under the skin, laying eggs along the line of its burrow. Scabies is a prevalent skin condition that affects people of all over the world. Scabies is an ancient affliction, estimated to have infected humans for the last 2,500 years. To diagnose scabies, a doctor will examine the skin, looking for signs of mites, including the burrows. If the doctor locates a mite burrow, he or she will take a scraping from that area of the skin and examine it under a microscope. The microscopic examination can determine the presence of mites or their eggs.
Signs and symptoms of scabies include a rash composed of small red bumps and blisters that affects specific areas of the body. Other symptoms can include small red burrows on the skin and relentless itching that is usually worse at night time. The burrows or tracks usually appear in folds of your skin. Any part of the body may be involved, in adults and older children scabies is most often found between the fingers, armpits, around the waist, inner …show more content…
Scabies can also be spread by using a towel, bedding or furniture infected with mites. It can affect people of all ages and from all incomes, social levels and living situations. People at risk for contracting a scabies infection include children, mothers of young children, sexually active young adults, residents of extended care facilities, the elderly and those who have undergone an organ transplant. If the scabies is left untreated, the infectious parasite will lay eggs and reproduce. Reproduction will cause further spread of scabies to new areas elsewhere on the body. Continuous scratching can cause open wounds or scabbing that can result in scarring of the affected