Scabies Answers
What is scabies? What causes a case of scabies to appear? What are the possible complications of scabies? These are just a few of the most common questions people have about scabies. By fully educating yourself about scabies, you can ensure that whether you or someone you know has a case of scabies in the future, you will know how to handle it and minimize the negative effects and duration of the case of scabies.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by a mite. The mite, officially known as Sarcoptes scabiei, is an extremely small mite. It is barely visible to the human eye, and may appear as nothing more than a white dot. The trademark rash of scabies occurs when the mite digs a small tunnel, commonly called a burrow, into the skin. Once the mite has created a burrow, the skin reacts with an allergic reaction.
In virtually all cases of scabies, it is contracted when one person comes into close contact with a person who currently has scabies. This transmission of scabies can occur during any skin to skin contact, including activities such as hugging and sexual intercourse. In a small percentage of scabies cases, the mites are transmitted to a person through contact with an object such as a towel or sheet. As previously stated, cases such as this make up a very small percentage of all scabies cases. Scientists have shown that when they are separated from human hosts, the average life span of a Sarcoptes scabiei is less than forty-eight hours.
If you suspect that you may have scabies, there are a few key symptoms that you can look for. You may first notice small insect-type bites or little red bumps that resemble pimples. You may also begin to notice that the afflicted area is becoming crusty or brown. The most telling symptom of scabies is the burrow of the mite. This will appear as a short S-shaped track.
Currently, scabies is a condition that affects a large majority of the population each year. Scabies can affect people of all races, social classes and backgrounds. Although the majority of cases do not include any major complications, a case of scabies can last anywhere from four to eight weeks. It is completely normal for the itching that accompanies scabies to last for several weeks after the rash has disappeared. |
