Norwegian scabies is a dangerous and serious disease with a chronic course. It is worth saying that this disease is rare. In medical practice, about 150 cases of the disease were recorded. The disease is accompanied by deep skin lesions and in the absence of proper therapy can lead to dangerous complications up to the death of the patient.
Pathogen Characterization
It was believed that the causative agent of this ailment is Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, a scabies itch, the infection of which occurs through contact with a sick person. But with further research, scientists were able to find out that the disease also develops against the background of invasion with the usual scabies mite. By the way, for the first time, Norwegian scabies was officially registered in Norway at the end of the 19th century, which, in fact, explains the name.
The tick affects human skin, regardless of age or gender. These are small parasites whose body size is 0.25-0.3 mm (males are slightly smaller). Females are dangerous, since males die immediately after fertilization. Female individuals move in layers of the patient’s skin, forming “passages” and laying eggs. Larvae emerge from them, which become sexually mature individuals after 4 to 7 days, after which they go out through the skin through the ventilation passages that the female lays.
Are there any risk factors?
Norwegian cortical scabies develops against the background of a weakened immune system, as this allows ticks to multiply actively. Scientists identify several risk factors:
- the presence of HIV infection in the body;
- systemic autoimmune diseases, including lupus erythematosus;
- oncological diseases;
- general candidiasis;
- tuberculosis, leprosy and some other diseases;
- depletion of the body that occurs against the background of nervous strain, severe stress, alcoholism;
- neurological and mental disorders, including infantilism, dementia, dementia;
- long-term therapy with the use of cytostatics and hormonal steroid drugs;
- paralysis, impaired sensitivity of peripheral nerves.
Transmission routes
Norwegian scabies is an extremely contagious disease. One infected person can lead to an outbreak. An itch mite can live in the environment for up to 2 weeks. The most common is the contact route of transmission - the parasite can be caught by contact with human skin, for example, by shaking hands, hugs, during intercourse. By the way, the most active pathogens become in the evening and at night.
A household transmission path is also possible. For example, if you live in the same house as a sick person, you can catch the infection using the same dishes, bedding, towels, clothes, toys and other items.
Clinical picture: what symptoms are accompanied by the disease?
The incubation period lasts about 2 to 6 weeks. Further, the disease can develop for years and even decades. Fever in a patient is rare, but the skin becomes very dry and feels hot to the touch - these are the first symptoms of scabies in adults.
Ticks multiply very quickly - during diagnosis, thousands of microorganisms are often found in the upper layers of the skin. Parasites move under the skin, which is accompanied by swelling, redness. Itching is present in only 50% of patients. The strokes of the scabies mite usually begin with the lateral surfaces of the fingers. The concentration of pathogenic microorganisms can be observed on the skin between the fingers, on the back of the knees and elbows, in the area of the mammary glands. Parasites affect the lower abdomen and foreskin of the penis.
Due to the formation of strokes, the patient's skin gradually becomes thicker and rougher. Scabs of gray, yellow and even greenish color form on it. If untreated, the upper skin layers take the form of a shell covered with grooves. When removing the upper crusts, you can see reddish skin with foci of erosion.
Norwegian scabies is accompanied by the appearance of scabs throughout the body, including the face. The patient's nails thicken, become loose and change color - the process resembles a fungal infection of the nail plate. Human hair becomes dull, thin and brittle. The patient emits a characteristic sour smell, which is an important diagnostic criterion.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is very important to correctly diagnose the disease. Medicine knows the case when the patient was diagnosed incorrectly and prescribed treatment for psoriasis. This led to a generalization of the process and the death of the patient.
Of course, the collection of anamnesis and examination of skin tissues should give the specialist the idea of scabies. The epithelium is covered with crusts, and the skin on the folds of the neck, groin and armpits acquires more pronounced pigmentation. Then the patient submits blood for analysis - in the samples a specialist can detect an increase in the number of eosinophils and white blood cells. There is a more accurate technique that allows you to diagnose an ailment. For analysis, tissue samples are taken from the thickened stratum corneum. Norwegian scabies is characterized by the presence of scabies in the biopsy specimen. Egg and tick larvae, as well as adults, can also be seen in skin samples.
The basic principles of therapy
Treatment of Norwegian scabies is carried out using special ointments:
- The first stage of treatment is the removal of crusts and keratinized skin areas. For this purpose, ointments made on the basis of sulfur or salicylic acid are used. These preparations soften tissues and contribute to the easy removal of damaged areas.
- The second stage is the treatment of the skin with antiparasitic agents (mainly those that contain benzyl benzoate). There are a few rules here. Ointments are applied to clean, dry skin (you must take a shower before the procedure). Means need to process the whole body, and not just the affected areas. The cream should remain on the skin for at least 12 hours.
- During therapy, it is necessary to change bed linen, clothes and towels every day (they then need to be washed at high temperatures).
- Often against the background of the use of ointments, the appearance of severe itching and burning is observed. This is not an indication for discontinuation of therapy. The fact is that due to the mass death of parasites and the release of toxins into the bloodstream, the patient often develops an allergic reaction. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines.
The drug "Benzyl benzoate": instructions for use, price
As already mentioned, this drug is most often used to treat Norwegian scabies. What is benzyl benzoate? Instructions for use, price, properties - these are the questions that interest each patient.
The drug is available in the form of a cream intended for external use. The active substance of the drug is able to penetrate the chitin shell of the tick and accumulate in the body of the pathogen in toxic concentrations. The use of this tool allows you to get rid of adult individuals and larvae, but in relation to the eggs of parasites it is inactive. You need to apply the cream to the skin, having previously tried to clean it as much as possible from the crusts and upper dead layers. Sometimes rubbing the product may be accompanied by a slight burning sensation.
Ointment (or emulsion) can not be used if there are ulcers on the skin. The price of the drug is not too high - a jar of cream with a volume of 50 g will cost about 60 - 100 rubles.
Sulfur ointment: simple instructions for use
There are many other drugs used for Norwegian scabies and similar diseases. For example, sulfuric ointment (simple) is considered effective . The instruction for use states that the drug has antiparasitic, antifungal and keratoplastic properties, helps soften the skin and facilitates the process of removing scabs. The ointment contains precipitated sulfur, as well as petroleum jelly and an emulsifier. For external use, the components practically do not penetrate into the bloodstream.
The drug is used to treat scabies, acne, psoriasis, demodicosis, pedicule, dandruff. Before applying the ointment to the skin, you need to take a shower. The remains of the ointment can not be washed off during the day. The procedure is repeated for three consecutive days. Sulfur ointment is a cheap and effective treatment. But today the drug is rarely used. The fact is that the product has a sharp, unpleasant odor, and spots remain on clothes and bedding.
Preventive actions
Norwegian scabies is an extremely dangerous and contagious disease. Therefore, it is worth adhering to some safety rules:
- If you had to contact a sick person, you need to see a doctor - he will prescribe preventive antiparasitic drugs.
- If there is an infected person in the house, then you must strictly adhere to the rules of hygiene. All towels, clothes and bedding used by the patient must be washed at high temperature (the scabies mite dies at temperatures above 60 degrees in 2 hours). Boiling and ironing kills parasites.
- The room also needs to be treated using alkaline and chlorinated solutions for cleaning.
- After the end of antiparasitic therapy, patients are also prescribed antibacterial agents to prevent complications.
This is a serious disease - you can neither ignore it, nor try to treat it on your own. Alternative methods and home remedies can be used only with the permission of the attending physician and only along with drug therapy.