Scabies is more common than you’d think. The mites have eight legs, and they burrow into the epidermis of the skin. Once they have made their way into the upper layers of your skin, they lay eggs, the eggs hatch, the mites move, and the rash spreads. They are incredibly contagious, and they can live on the body for a couple of months too.
Catching Scabies
Scabies is incredibly contagious; you often catch them from other people through direct and prolonged contact, although you can catch them from wearing the same clothes or sitting on the same chair. Scabies can spread easily in institutions like schools, childcare facilities, prisons, nursing homes or care facilities. However, contrary to popular belief, you cannot get scabies from animals.
Symptoms
The two most obvious symptoms of scabies are the rash and the itching. The rash can occur anywhere on your body, and it almost looks like a collection of spots or pimples. You might also find burrows on your skin where scabies have entered your epidermis. The burrows are raised lines on your body;they might be flesh coloured or greyish white. If you have had scabies before, then the symptoms can occur more quickly; if you have never had scabies before, then it can take up to six weeks for the symptoms to appear.
Diagnosis
Usually, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor or go to a pharmacist in order to be diagnosed as having scabies. They might be able to tell simply by looking at the rash or burrows on your skin. They may also attempt to remove a mite for closer inspection; this is usually done by scarping the skin or removing a mite from the burrow using a needle.
Treatment
The most important thing when it comes to treating scabies is avoiding delays because it is highly contagious. While the scabies is being treated, you should avoid close bodily contact with other people because you will spread the infection. Most of the time, a cream will be prescribed by the doctor or suggested by the pharmacist. Topical creams kill the mites and repair the skin. Patient has information on the creams that you should be looking for to treat your scabies.
You might also want to take antihistamines or apply menthol creams or gels to help alleviate the itch while you are treating scabies. However, scratching your skin can make it worse because it can spread the infection to other areas of your body. Also, remember that sedative antihistamines can make you drowsy, so you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery after taking them.
Finally
Remember to wash all clothes and bedding on a hot wash;otherwise, scabies can continue to live on them, and you risk reinfection. If some items cannot be washed, then you might want to bag them and leave them for at least five days for all the mites to die. Avoid close contact with others until your treatment has run its course. Despite what many people think, catching scabies is nothing to be ashamed of; it simply means you have been in contact with someone else who has scabies.
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