Scabies is a contagious skin infestation which is marked by intense itching and scratching all over the body. The causal organism for scabies is the scabies mites called as Sarcoptes scabiei, which creates burrows inside the dermis to survive and lay eggs.
The following article will give you an insight into the ways by which scabies can spread among people and the way to diagnose it.
Scabies is a disease which can easily spread through a close contact with the person suffering from it. A close skin contact with an infected person for a prolonged time can become a reason for infestation. Sexual contact has greater chances of the person getting infested with scabies if one of the partners has it.
Scabies can spread through sharing of clothes, towels and bedding and touching any of the patient’s belongings.
It takes about eight weeks for the scabies infection to show symptoms. But the scabies mite cannot survive without the human body for more than 48 hours.
Sarcoptes scabiei mites enter your skin and live in the burrows through which they spread to the whole body. They feed themselves on the tissues and body fluids through the mouth and use their front legs to create burrows. They ingest tissue and fluids for survival and growth.
Initially, the infection is noticed on the skin folds, between the fingers, in the buttock region and the genital portion.
Diagnosing the infection
Sometimes scabies can also be confused with other skin allergies; therefore it becomes difficult to diagnose it. But there are some of the following ways by which the doctors are able to find out what really is the infection.
- Ink test
The ink test can confirm the scabies infection because it highlights the burrows that the scabies mite creates inside the skin. The doctors simply rub the ink on the itchy patch of the skin and then the area is wiped it off with an alcohol pad. If it is scabies, the ink will not be removed with the alcohol pad and will show up dark lines instead which confirms that is nothing but scabies.
The other way out for confirmation of scabies is by scraping off a skin sample and examining it under the microscope for detection of the scabies mite.
- Ruling out other skin infections
As already mentioned above, itching can be a result of various skin allergies. Following may be some of the skin infections that show similar symptoms to scabies.
- Eczema – This is also one of the cases which make the skin red, dry, leading to excess of itchiness.
- Impetigo – This is bacterial infection which affects the outer skin layers resulting into intense itchiness.
Check up for scabies
You should immediately visit the doctor as soon as you start feeling itchy over the body or if you come in contact with the person suffering from scabies. Don’t decide for yourself but let the doctor diagnose and accordingly decide for the treatment. The scabies diagnosis involves a sexual health checkup which you can do all by yourself.
Further, your doctor will even guide you on treatment of all other household members to keep them away from the infection. Also your sexual partner has to be treated as he or she has higher chances of being infected.
Dr Scabies is one of the popular medicines recommended by doctors for scabies treatment. It can also be availed from over the counter because of its safety and effectiveness to cure the disease.
Dr Scabies cream and lotion are made from natural herbs which do not lead to any side-effects. Since it is chemical free, therefore it can be trusted for treatment.