Scabies clinical features and management Custom Search Scabies is a skin disease caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei also called as itch mite. It is a common skin problem in children living in poor hygienic conditions but can affect anybody. The adult mite is a very small organism less than 1 mm. It has eight legs and a flat oval shaped body. It belongs to the class Arachnida of the phylum Arthropoda. The female burrows into the layers of the skin and lays eggs. The eggs hatch and develop into adults in about two weeks and the cycle goes on. The itch mite has a life span of about one month. The itch mite as seen under a microscope
The itch mite spreads through close contact. Hence the disease is very common in crowded places like orphanages and homes for mentally retarded. Children can get it in schools where they sit close to each other. Symptoms and signs: The disease causes itching (the word is derived from the Latin word scabere which means to scratch) which can be quite severe. Scratching can result in abrasions.
During the early stage the skin may appear normal. Later scratch marks and burrows caused by the mite may be seen. The burrows are more common in between the fingers, on the wrists, elbows and buttocks. In severe disease the whole body may the affected. Secondary bacterial infection is a common complication.
Treatment: Permethrin cream is highly effective for scabies. The cream is applied to the whole body taking care to avoid contact with the eyes. It should be applied before going to bed and left overnight. Special care should be taken to rub the cream well into the spaces between the fingers and skin creases. The child is given a bath next morning. As the mite can spread from one person to the other all the family members (or those in close contact) should be simultaneously treated. If needed treatment may be repeated after 1 week. Itching may persist for a few days after treatment and by itself is not an indication for repeating the treatment. Antihistaminics may be used for itching. It is important to wash all the clothes used by the affected child (bedclothes, towels and other clothes worn by the child) in hot water and then dry those in sunlight to kill all the mites. Gamma benzene hexachloride (lindone, kwell) is another effective remedy. But the drug can get absorbed through the skin of young infants and affect the brain. Hence it is recommended only for older children and adults. Herbal remedy: Neem is well known for its anti-infective properties and neem leaves are supposed to contain ingredients which can kill the mites. Neem oil can be applied to the skin as an adjunct in the treatment. Prevention: Measures to improve standard of hygiene help in prevention of this problem. One should avoid using clothes worn by others. Avoiding contact with those suffering from scabies is also important. Custom Search
Page last reviewed on 29th November 2009
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