These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Scabies
Question: My middle income,very clean and healthful family has just been diagnosed as having scabies. My wife is freaking and washing,ironing and cleaning everything. I got medicine for this yesterday and will be taking my kids in tommorrow for medicine. Why us? How can we kill this parasite in the house and can we reinfect after medicine taken if parasite not killed immediately in house. Please help for our sanity. very ashamed for some reason.
dad with scared family…
Answer: Scabies refers to an infection by a small external parasite named Sarcoptes scabiei. This is a common problem and is easily spread by person to person contact. These are common infections seen in day care and elementary schools as well as by sexual contact or any close personal contact. Physicians and nurses are particularly prone to infection when they inspect infected patients. The itching is caused by burrowing of the female under the skin. Curiously, the reaction is a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to the animals excrement. Consequently, one’s initial infection will be felt about four weeks after infestation and re-infection much sooner. The most usual symptom is severe itching worse at night or after a hot shower or bath. The burrows tend to be in the web spaces between the fingers, elbows, penis and pelvic area and back side of the wrists. The little parasite has difficulty living off a host and sheets, etc. will be infectious for short periods of time 1-2 days. Treatment involves a topical anti-scabies lotion applied after a shower or bath. Changing sheets, etc. is usually recommended-although an uncommon vector of infection. The itching may persist for some time since it represents an allergic reaction and not the actual parasite itself.
