Ashwin Kumar

DEFINATION:
Scabies is an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei.  Infestation is common.
Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
1.Pimple-like irritations, burrows or rash of the skin, especially the webbing between the fingers; the skin folds on the wrist, elbow, or knee; the penis, the breast, or shoulder blades.
2.Intense itching, especially at night and over most of the body.
3.Sores on the body caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria.
DIAGNOSIS:
Diagnosis is most commonly made by looking at the burrows or rash. A skin scraping may be taken to look for mites, eggs, or mite fecal matter (scybala) to confirm the diagnosis. Even if a skin scraping or biopsy is taken and returns negative, it is still possible that you may be infested.scabies can be infested with thousands of mites and should be considered highly infectious.
TREATMENT:
Apply the medication to a clean body from the neck down to the toes. After leaving the medication on the body for the recommended time, take a bath or shower to wash off the cream or lotion. Put on clean clothes. All clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person during the 3 days before treatment should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. A second treatment of the body with the same cream or lotion may be necessary. Pregnant women and children are often treated with milder scabies medications such as 5% permethrin cream.