Scabies. The very word sounds itchy and uncomfortable—definitely not a problem you want to have. But if you have an itch that just won’t go away, and in fact seems to be getting worse, the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei may indeed be the culprit.
Scabies. It sounds potentially embarrassing too—the kind of thing that makes you want to stick your head in the sand. But if left untreated, scabies only get worse.
Often referred to as mites, scabies infest the top layer of the skin, says the American Social Health Association (ASHA). They are too small to be seen by the human eye, but you may be able to detect signs of the burrows the females make in order to reproduce. These tunnels show up as little lines under the surface of your skin in meandering patterns. Infestations occur most often where the environment is inviting—between the fingers and toes and in the folds of skin around your elbows, knees, buttocks, waist, abdomen, genitals and breasts. In severe or rare cases, scabies can infest the skin of your neck, face and even feet.
The parasite is contagious—passed from one person to another by close physical contact. A sexual partner is often, but not necessarily, the origin. You can also get scabies from prolonged contact with anyone, for instance someone you hold hands with, and from infested linens, shared clothing and so on.
The main symptom of scabies is itching. Itching that gradually gets more urgent and may seem worse at night, as the ASHA relates at www.ashahstd.org. You may also notice burrows, rashes or other evidence of irritation on your skin.
If you think you might have scabies, a trip to the doctor is in order. There are many different tests a physician may conduct to determine whether you have the parasite. Your doctor may take shavings or scrapings of your skin and evaluate them under a microscope. Or, you may have a textbook case that an experienced doctor can spot without much testing at all.
Treatment will most likely involve a cream or lotion containing a chemical that will kill the mites. You’ll need to take care to rid your home of possible stray scabies as well, by washing sheets, towels and clothing that’s likely to be infested in hot water and vacuuming well. And please be sure to let people you have close contact with know to be on the lookout in case they have scabies too.
Scabies can be very annoying and a real pain to deal with. But there’s reason to take heart, says the ASHA, as the typical case of scabies causes no more than “discomfort and inconvenience.” There is a form of scabies that’s much more severe, Norwegian scabies, but it’s generally found only in people with deficient immune systems. And you don’t need to worry about contact with your beloved pets, as mites that animals carry cannot live long on human skin.
Scabies. Uncomfortable, certainly. Disconcerting, probably. But a chronic health issue, no. Face the condition, take care of it and move on with your life.