Scabies

Scabies is a skin condition which is extremely contagious. This condition is not caused by an infection, but a mite that attaches itself to the skin and bites in several places. The mite that causes scabies cannot survive without a human host for more than three days. However, once it finds a host and attaches itself to the skin, it can survive for up to a month. While attached to the human skin, mites can also lay eggs on the skin. These eggs hatch and the larvae crawl onto the skin, feeding on human blood and multiplying. If scabies is not treated immediately, scabies symptoms may continue to manifest and may last for months and even years.

A scabies rash is extremely itchy and may compel you to scratch till it begins bleeding. Sometimes, the rash is so subtle that scabies is impossible to diagnose until it forms large colonies on the flesh. The mite can also spread from one person to another through close contact or through sharing of personal items like towels, clothing articles and other such things. Pets tend to be host to similar mites. However, these mites, when transferred to humans, cannot reproduce so easily and tend to die within a few days of the infestation. There is no particular age or gender which is particularly prone to scabies bites. The mites can attack any human body and are especially found in closed and congested areas where proper hygiene is not followed. People who have a strong immune system are usually able to dispel such attacks. However, people with low immunity, young children, and old people may not be able to do so successfully. The main scabies symptoms are usually red colored rashes which itch a lot; also scabies causes a syndrome which is known as crusted scabies. This is also known as Norwegian scabies. It is a condition where the rash causes thickening and scaling of the skin. The rash is also very itchy and may bleed due to excessive scratching. If the rash becomes thick and starts to ooze out pus, there is a chance of it getting infected. A doctor should be consulted immediately in such a case to contain any infection and treat the rash permanently. Though scabies has no relation with other parasites like lice, the scabies home remedies are almost similar. You will be given a medicated solution which should be applied topically to the skin.