Scabies: What It Is And How To Treat It

Scabies is a type of skin infection found both in animals and humans. The infection is caused by eight-legged mites, very tiny insects known as Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites do not live on the surface of the host’s skin; instead, they burrow under, causing an allergic reaction that leads to intense itching, redness and inflammation. Mites initially infest the part of the body where skin contact with the infected individual occurred. Since mites prefer soft, hairless areas of the body, their burrows can frequently be found between the toes and fingers, elbows, waist, buttocks, breasts and genital areas. In animals, a different type of infection occurs and is known as Sarcoptic mange. It, too, results to intense itching and rashes. Frequent scratching can also result to hair loss.

Scabies is contagious and can be passed on from direct skin contact with an infected individual, whether it’s human or animal. However, mites that have been transferred from an animal to a human often do not live long, so infestation usually lasts only for a few days. A mite can live for one month as long as it has a host but it will only live for 2 to 3 days without one.

Symptoms

The most distinctive symptoms associated with this type of infection is intense itching, particularly at night. Rashes will also begin to appear in the form of insect bites and small, red bumps that resemble pimples. There may also be small burrows that would form under the skin (usually S-shaped) that will indicate the movement of the mite. These symptoms also appear in animals, along with hair loss.

Who is at risk?

Scabies can be spread from one individual to the next, so there is a high risk of infection in members of a household where one person has scabies. People who are malnourished or have compromised immune systems are also at risk. The infection can also be spread in congested environments, including hospitals and nursing homes. In animals, close proximity of other animals to the infected individual also puts them at risk of infection.

Treatment

Once diagnosed, scabies may be treated with medicated creams, ointments and soaps. Antihistamines may also be prescribed to treat itching. For severe cases, ivermectin pills may also be prescribed. For animals, scabies is treated using medicated soaps, dips and pills, along with intravenous shots.