How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Scabies in Humans

Jakarta –

Scabies or scabies are commonly known by pets. However, humans can also experience scabies.

Scabies is a skin disease caused by mite bites. In humans, scabies is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Common symptoms of scabies include itching and redness of the skin.

Even though they are both caused by mites, as reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mites that cause scabies in humans and animals are different. However, the symptoms that are caused are almost the same, such as severe itching.

Find out the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of scabies in humans in the following description.

Causes of Scabies

Scabies in humans is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. These worms burrow into the skin, then hide and lay eggs there.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae of the worm move to the surface of the skin and grow. These worms can then spread to other parts of the body or to other people through skin-to-skin contact.

The itching that occurs when suffering from scabies is caused by the body’s allergic reaction to the presence of worms, eggs or feces.

This disease can be transmitted to other people through direct skin contact with people suffering from scabies. Scabies can also be transmitted sexually.

Sometimes scabies can spread indirectly through things, such as clothes, towels or mattresses that the person suffers from. However, this method is more likely to be spread by people who have crusted scabies.

If someone comes into contact with an animal that has scabies, the animal’s worms can spread to them but only cause itching and irritation of the skin.

This is because mites from animals cannot reproduce in humans and they will die on their own within a few days. And that person does not need special treatment.

However, the animal must be treated because the worms can continue to penetrate the human skin and cause similar symptoms.

Symptoms of scabies

Common symptoms of scabies in humans are:

• Severe pain, especially at night
• Adequate
• Scaly or flaky skin
• Itchy lines (line stones) appear as bumps or scars on the skin.

The above symptoms can be found in: between the fingers and toes, armpits, thighs, wrists, inner elbows, soles of the feet, chest, around the nipples, navel, genitals, groin area and buttocks.

In babies and young children, scabies usually occurs on: the fingers, the face, the scalp, neck, palms and soles of the feet.

If a person has never had scabies before, symptoms can appear 4-8 weeks after being exposed to the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Even if there are no symptoms yet, once he is infected he can spread the mites back to other people.

In people who have had scabies, symptoms usually appear more quickly, about 1-4 days after being exposed to the mites.

Treatment of scabies

Scabies is treated to eliminate the disease. Generally, topical creams or oral medications are used for severe cases. Here’s how to treat scabies in humans:

1. Apply Topical Ointment

Several oils, creams, or lotions are usually prescribed by a doctor to treat scabies. The ointment is usually applied all over the body and left for at least 8 hours.

Ointments or lotions used to treat scabies, such as permethrin 5%, malathion lotion 0.5%, benzyl benzoate emulsion 10-25%, and sulfur cream 5-10%.

2. Take oral medication

The drug ivermectin taken orally is usually prescribed for people with crusted scabies and when the prescribed ointment has no effect.

Ivermectin is not recommended for pregnant women and children weighing less than 15 kilograms.

Treatment can be repeated to kill new worms. Therefore, you should consult a doctor first.

In addition, people who live in the same house as people suffering from scabies must be treated even if they do not show symptoms to stop the spread.

Prevention of Scabies

To prevent scabies infections again and spreading them to other people, here is how to prevent scabies as mentioned from the World Health Organization (WHO) page:

• Avoid skin contact with people suffering from scabies, especially if they have an itchy rash.
• Treat everyone who lives in the same house as someone with scabies to prevent spreading it to others.
• Thoroughly wash all clothing, clothing and bedding used by people suffering from scabies.
• Use warm water and soap to wash clothes, towels and sheets that have been used three days before the start of the treatment.
• Dry wash at high temperature, in direct sunlight or using a hot dryer.
• Seal non-washable items in tightly closed plastic and store in a safe place for 2 weeks to remove mites. Because mites will die if they don’t get food for several days.
• Clean the room used to treat people suffering from scabies, especially crusted scabies.

That was about scabies or scabies in humans. So, do not underestimate this skin disease. Get medical attention immediately if you experience symptoms like those above.

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