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Entered2023.10.21 12:30 Modified2023.10.21 12:30
Diagnosed with highly contagious skin disease ‘Scabies’
Vulnerable skin folds… Quick suspicion is important
Be careful about disinfecting clothes, bedding, etc. when used by multiple people.
Photo = Getty Image Bank “The back of my hand was so itchy every night that I kept scratching it. At first, I thought I was bitten by a bug or a mosquito, but that wasn’t the case.”
Mr. Yoon, an office worker in his 30s, complained of itching on the back of his hand after going camping in the fall, and then experienced symptoms of red, swollen skin. A red-colored wound appeared on the area where she scratched, and as the wound spread between her fingers, she complained of pain. Ms. Yoon, who eventually found her way to the hospital, was diagnosed with ‘scabies’, a skin disease. Ms. Yoon said, “The hospital suspected that she may have contracted the disease from blankets and bedding that were rented and used at a camping site,” and she added, “They also said that she may have been infected by a patient visiting a camping site where many people gather.” said.
Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by ‘scabies mites’. Not only can it spread through person-to-person contact, but it can also be transmitted through clothing or bedding that has been in contact with multiple people. The scabies mite is a skin parasite whose host is humans, and the female digs a 1-2 mm deep cave in the skin. When a female lays eggs on the skin, they hatch 4 to 5 days later, and when the larvae become adults 10 to 12 days later, they lay eggs again in the skin.
Scabies mites have the characteristic of burrowing mainly in areas of the body that come into contact with the skin. Areas between fingers, groin, armpits, wrists, and women’s chest, waist, ankles, and toes are vulnerable to scabies mites. Scabies can also occur on the palms and soles of the feet, where the stratum corneum is thick, and the face is known to be less prone to infection. Photo = Getty Image Bank Itching appears over an average incubation period of 4 to 6 weeks. Because scabies mites are mainly active at night, there are no special symptoms during the day, but they cause severe itching at night. Symptoms such as a hemispherical red rash, pus, nodules, and blisters may also be present, and bacteria may penetrate wounds created during scratching, leading to suppuration or eczema.
As in Mr. Yoon’s case, scabies is easily transmitted in group settings such as camping sites and group facilities such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and childcare facilities. In particular, nursing facilities require special caution as patients and guardians living together are often infected in groups. You can become infected with just bedding, such as a blanket, and if you scratch because it is itchy, mites and eggs can get on your fingernails and spread to other parts of your body.
So, is there any way to treat or prevent scabies? First of all, it is best to avoid contact with infected patients as much as possible, and the patient’s clothes and bedding should be washed in warm water above 60 degrees. There is a high possibility of a complete cure if the ointment is applied to the entire body twice, one week apart. If a patient with scabies appears in a place where many people gather, they must be immediately isolated and treated. In addition to avoiding contact with the person with scabies, extra care must be taken in disinfecting bedding in hospitality establishments, etc. Baek Jin-ok, professor of dermatology at Gachon University Gil Hospital, said, “Children under 10 and the elderly with weak immune systems are vulnerable to scabies. However, young patients in their 20s and 30s are no exception.” He added, “It is most important to suspect scabies quickly and take action.” “If left untreated, it can easily spread to people around you, such as family and friends who have been in contact for a short period of time,” he advised.
He continued, “If you scratch your skin because it itches (due to scabies), numerous mites that get under your fingernails spread to other areas. You should avoid touching or scratching your hands as much as possible, and keep your hands and skin clean.” “As it is applied to the body, excessive application of ointment can be dangerous. Be careful not to develop allergic dermatitis while trying to treat scabies,” he added.
Kim Se-rin, Hankyung.com reporter [email protected]
2023-10-21 03:30:01
#itchy #night #scratched.. #hospital #struck #lightning
