CHE COSA È LA SCABBIA
Scabies is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects the skin tissue. It has been known since ancient times; until the 1970s, it was a rather rare condition, primarily associated with poverty and poor hygiene. Today, it occurs more frequently, affecting individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds, without particular distinctions of age or gender.
It can manifest at any time of the year, with increased frequency in summer and winter due to the tendency for overcrowding in enclosed spaces. Poor hygiene facilitates its spread. Frequent travel, stays in hotels, hospitalizations, etc., can also lead to contagion. This disease also affects dogs and cats, often referred to as “mange.” The cause of scabies is a microscopic mite – Sarcoptes Scabiei – a human parasite: the pregnant female burrows into the outer layer of the skin to lay her eggs.
Symptoms
The visible traces of scabies appear as short, wavy, and reddish lines on the surface of the skin. The areas of the body most frequently affected by scabies are the hands and feet (especially the skin between the fingers), the inner wrist, and the armpit area. Contagion can also affect other areas such as the elbows and the areas around the chest, genitals, navel, and buttocks. The most common symptom of scabies is intense itching. This can worsen at night or after a hot bath (the activity of the mites increases due to the heat). There are no particular problems or complications related to the parasitosis, but bacterial superinfections due to scratching (e.g., impetigo) are possible and common.
Scabies infection begins with small blisters or painful bumps. The incubation period lasts 3-6 weeks.
Children
In children, common contamination sites include:
- Scalp
- Face
- Neck
- Palms of the hands
- Soles of the feet
- Behind the ears
Scabies rarely affects children under 2 months of age. Consult a doctor if they show signs and symptoms that may indicate scabies.
Scabies transmission
Scabies is contagious and is usually transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Transmission typically occurs within the family unit; among adults, contagion primarily occurs through sexual contact.
The risk of spreading through clothing, bedding, and towels used by patients with typical scabies symptoms is low.
Furthermore, the risk may increase if the patient has crusted scabies, characterized by a massive infestation of mites.
The infection spreads more easily in crowded places and situations with many close contacts, such as schools or daycare centers… If a classmate or daycare friend has scabies, it would be wise to treat your child for the infection, even before they develop symptoms.
Treatment and therapy
Scabies is not considered a particularly serious disease, but it does not resolve spontaneously. Therefore, it is necessary for it to be treated by a doctor through appropriate treatment. It is advisable to consult a doctor or dermatologist whenever itching or a rash does not go away, especially if the itching intensifies at night and seems localized around the wrist or in the areas of tissue between the fingers.
The therapy is based, in addition to thorough personal hygiene, cleaning of clothes and household linens, on preparations containing sulfur, Elmerich ointment, and benzyl benzoate.
In cases of complications, treatment for scabies should include antibiotic and corticosteroid ointments. It is necessary to apply the cream or ointment to the skin all over the body and not just on the area with the rash; usually, the cream should remain on the skin for 8 to 12 hours before being washed off.
After application, do not wash your hands: scabies mites particularly like the skin between the fingers! It may be necessary to apply the medication before going to bed and then wash it off the following morning.In most cases, it is necessary to repeat the treatment after one week.
Transmission of scabies through sexual contact: the STI exam
In addition to the medications used, it is good practice to wash before each application and to change underwear and bed linens after each application. Since scabies can be transmitted through sexual contact, sexually active individuals affected by scabies should also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
All partners should also be treated for scabies.When treatment for scabies begins, it usually takes one or two days for the itching to disappear, but sometimes the itching can continue for several weeks. Treatment is considered effective when no new rashes occur or no visible signs appear after 24 or 48 hours.
Prevetion
In the event of contact with someone affected by scabies, it is advisable to consult a doctor. They will prescribe a preventive treatment that involves replacing personal and bed linens after each medication application. Direct physical contact (e.g., a handshake) is the most common mode of transmission for scabies. However, scabies mites can live for up to 3 days on clothing, bedding, or dust. Therefore, it is possible to contract scabies from another person with whom you share the same bed, linens, or simply towels.
Linen should be washed in a washing machine at temperatures above 60°C. Linens that cannot be washed at high temperatures should be placed in a sealed waterproof bag for at least 48 hours. It is important to note that the scabies mite, as an obligate human parasite, cannot survive away from humans for more than a certain period of time.
Warnings
The information contained in this article should not in any way replace the doctor-patient relationship. It is recommended to seek the advice of your doctor before implementing any advice or recommendations provided here.
