Scabies is a dermatological disease that is very common in the world. It is caused by the intradermal microparasite Sarcoptes scabiei and is very easily transmitted to other people. It is worth understanding what scabies is. The first signs of the disease are important to detect as soon as possible to begin treatment.
Scabies mite
An individual tick lives between the stratum corneum and the granular layer of the epidermis. The female is slightly larger than the male. It reaches the following sizes: 0.3-0.4 × 0.25-0.38 mm. By making passages inside the human skin, the female lays eggs. After two to three days, larvae emerge from them, and after one and a half to two weeks they are already full-grown adult parasites that can give offspring.
Scabies itching live up to two months. Regardless of age, an insect can always infect humans. One individual in three months of life is capable of producing six generations of their own kind, the total number of which can reach one hundred and fifty million.
Interestingly, the scabies mite does not tolerate an environment that is unsuitable for it. Especially fatal are the high temperature and low humidity. The tick dies in one hour if it is exposed to temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, and also in a day if the humidity is less than 35 percent. Outside the host’s body, the parasite can live up to five days, and then dies.
Pathogenesis and features of the disease
Whatever signs of scabies we may observe, all of them are the result of an allergic reaction of the body to the presence of a tick, as well as to its waste products, including eggs, saliva, and excrement. Once in a new human body, itch insects take time to get comfortable.
The incubation period can last from one to six weeks. During this time, the patient’s immune system also begins to adapt to new conditions, reacting to the scabies mite. The more individuals hit a person, the faster the symptoms appear.
If one of the people was already susceptible to such a disease, then with repeated infection, the first sign of scabies will appear in a few hours. Thanks to such an operative immune response, a much smaller number of individuals are found on the skin. The severity of the rash and other manifestations depend on the severity of the allergic reaction in a particular person.
Unfortunately, concomitant infections, such as staphylococcus, often occur due to skin lesions with scabies mites. The rash on the body becomes more diverse, pustules form, which complicates the treatment. Day and morning, individuals are inactive, and in the evening and at night the female digs passages in the human skin. For a day, it passes 2-3 millimeters and can lay up to four eggs.
The insect saliva is able to dissolve the human epidermis, it also forms a special solution, which the insect itself eats. At night, ticks crawl to the surface of the skin in order to mate or expand their possessions.
If under the skin such parasites move relatively slowly, then on the surface they are able to move at a speed of 25 millimeters per minute. In connection with this feature of the life of ticks, it becomes clear to us that the greatest risk of infection with them is at night through a common bed.
The manifestation of the disease in adults
The signs of scabies in adults are almost the same. The person experiences an itch, a rash appears on the body, sometimes with small transparent vesicles. The moves of the scabies tick appear. They are easy to see. It is as if thin strings under the skin itself, which can be either straight or zigzag. However, sometimes there is scabies without moves, then it is almost impossible to detect.
Scabies, the first signs of which occur after a bite with a scabies mite, develops very quickly. Nodules of various sizes appear on the skin, and a little later blood crusts form due to combing.
The first signs of scabies in humans are erythematous papules. They can be multiple, and drain, and scattered. Over time, the papule-like form passes into the vesicles or even into a bullous rash. The type of rashes and their intensity depend on the degree of an allergic reaction, but do not indicate the amount of parasites in the body. Severe skin damage can lead to infections, pustules and eczema.
Most often, signs of scabies in adults can be found on the hands, in the interdigital folds, on the stomach, in the elbows and legs. Often a rash occurs around the nipples, in the buttocks, on the skin of the penis in a man, on the hips and in the popliteal hollows.
Classification of manifestations of the disease
- Ardi's symptom in a disease such as scabies. The first signs are purulent crusts and pustules in the elbows.
- Symptom of Gorchakov. Blood crusts are added to the above.
- A symptom of Michaelis includes rashes in the intergluteal fold, which also go to the sacrum.
- The symptom of Cesari is the presence of scabies, detected by palpation.
Combing any manifestations of scabies, as a rule, leads to infections. Pyoderma may develop, and it, in turn, can lead to post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. In rare severe cases, even rheumatic heart disease is possible.
Pyoderma with such a disease is often accompanied by boils, ecthyma, lymphadenitis or lymphangitis may appear. Some patients tolerate microbial eczema. And fifty percent of patients have allergic dermatitis.
Scabies: the first signs, photo (in children)
Even babies have the same symptoms as adults. In particular, they are diagnosed with scabies and papulovesicles. Paronychia, onychia and weeping are still developing. In the first months of a child’s life, the disease may resemble ordinary hives. This complicates a quick diagnosis.
The first signs of scabies in children are more often manifested on the soles of the feet and even on the scalp. Localization of blisters is observed in the back, buttocks, and also on the face. Due to combing, they are covered with a bloody crust. A little later, a small rash prevails, and in some cases, baby scabies resembles the symptoms of acute eczema (see photo below).
Itching sensations can spread to large areas of the skin, which often leads to sleep disturbance. Also there are lymphadenitis, lymphangitis, lymphocytosis and leukocytosis, albuminuria, accelerated ESR, and in infants even sepsis. Every year, the number of diseases with erased symptoms is increasing.
Scabies: the first signs in pregnant women
If the disease is detected in time and properly treated, then the fetus will not have any negative effect. The only negative is that scabies is harmful to the expectant mother. This leads to a deterioration in its condition, sometimes even to an increase in temperature, a breakdown.
If scabies is not diagnosed in a timely manner and proper treatment is not performed, then a more severe form may develop, when pustules form, infection occurs. This can all negatively affect the development of the fetus.
A great risk of infection exists during childbirth itself. Then there is a danger of passing the scabies to the newborn baby. As already known, the disease in newborns is more severe and often resembles hives.
If the diagnosis is not immediately right, then scabies can lead to serious consequences with infectious diseases, followed by a complex and long-term recovery period.
The disease manifests itself in pregnant women with standard symptoms. All the same severe itching, which becomes stronger at night, the presence of subcutaneous passages of the tick. There are also signs of scabies on the hands, especially between the fingers, on the wrists, on the elbow bends and genitals.
If the above symptoms occur, you should definitely take a scraping from the skin. The presence of scabies mite can be confused with the so-called scabies of pregnant women, which occurs due to special changes in the body of a woman.
Establishing diagnosis
Diagnosis of scabies is possible only after clinical studies (based on epidemiological and laboratory data). Especially when symptoms of the disease are erased, the doctor should not rely on his experience or assumptions. There are four methods for diagnosing scabies.
The first is the mechanical extraction of the scabies mite from the blind passage. Then the insect is examined under a microscope. However, this method is rarely effective. Doctors often find dilapidated papules that are unsuitable for research.
Another method is to cut a small area of the epidermis near the scabies. This allows a qualitative histological examination, revealing not only the scabies mite, but also its eggs.
Sometimes layer-by-layer scraping is used in the area of the blind passage until a drop of blood appears. Seized material is also examined.
The last method that modern medicine uses is the alkaline preparation method. After the procedure, macerated skin is examined.
One of the above manipulations is carried out necessarily to exclude scabies in a person who goes to the doctor with similar symptoms. Particular attention should be paid to this if similar signs appeared in one of the family members. This is how scabies is diagnosed. The first signs, treatment are determined and prescribed by an experienced doctor.
The most reliable indicator that this is really a contagious disease is the opening of the scabies with scalpel. The damaged stratum corneum of the skin is cut, then the resulting materials are microscopic. It is advisable that the studied passages were not combed, and it is most effective to take such scrapings in the wrist area.
If the doctor uses potassium hydrochloride, this allows better detection of ticks and their eggs.
It will be easier to detect scabies if iodine tincture is applied to the affected areas. Then, against the background of healthy skin, the parasite moves immediately. They will be more brown. Abroad, ink is used for such diagnostics.
A video dermatoscope is also used to detect scabies. It magnifies the image six hundred times, which allows you to accurately view the problem areas on the head with a disease such as scabies. The first signs and photos of the affected areas are presented below.
Treatment technique
Scabies alone will not work. It can only be aggravated, even for many years (it is worth remembering how many individuals one female can produce in her life!). To cure the disease, it is enough to apply certain measures. There is no need for general treatment. The use of medications will only be local. All such tools can be divided into four groups:
- synthetic derivatives of balsamic products;
- sulfur, sulfuric ointments, Wilkinson's ointment ;
- antiparasitic insecticidal soap, pyrethra ointments, fluid flitsid, Tizol, Creolin preparations;
- folk remedies, which include kerosene, gasoline, fuel oil, autol oil, crude oil, ash liquor.
It is worth considering how scabies is treated, the first signs (for pictures, see the article), treatment sequence:
Before using any product, the patient should wash the body to remove ticks that crawled to the surface. Now you can begin to intensively rub the remedy into yourself, especially in places where parasites are localized. If the skin already has more serious lesions, then it will be enough just to lubricate it with a solution. You can process the whole body except the head.
Benzyl benzoate emulsion
This tool is the most common. A twenty percent solution is used by adults, and 10% of the drug will be enough for small children. On the first day of treatment, foci of inflammation twice for 10 minutes. with a ten-minute interval is treated with this emulsion using a cotton swab. Change bed linen and clothes. On the second day, the procedure is repeated. After three days, you can wash yourself in the shower and change clothes again.
The method of Demyanovich
Any treatment is effective when a person notices the very first sign of scabies and takes the necessary actions. Two mixtures are prepared in advance: a sixty percent solution of sodium hyposulfate and a six percent solution of hydrochloric acid.
The treatment room should be warm. The patient is completely undressing. The doctor pours one hundred milliliters of the first solution into the container. The patient begins to rub his hands. First, the shoulders and arms should be treated (first the right side, and the second - the left). Then the whole body is applied, and in the end - on both legs. In each place you need to rub the solution for at least two minutes. Then you can relax a bit.
When the mixture dries, the skin is covered with white crystals, like powder. Now you can repeat rubbing in the same sequence. Salt crystals contained in the solution destroy the entrances to the scabies, which allows the drug to work more efficiently.
When the skin is dry, you can go to the second solution. Pouring it a little on the palm of your hand, you need to process the whole body in the same sequence. Rubdowns should be carried out only for one minute. After drying, repeat the procedure two more times. Clean clothes should be worn, and after three days you can wash yourself.
If there is no positive result, then treatment is recommended to be repeated in five days. In fact, only in rare cases, repeated therapy is required. When two solutions interact, sulfur dioxide and sulfur are released, which reliably kill ticks and their eggs. Scabies, the first signs of which are terrible itching and changes in the skin, do not pass as quickly as they arise.
Sulfuric ointment
For treatment, a thirty-three percent agent is chosen. It is not applied only to the scalp. For five days, the ointment should be rubbed once a day (at night). Then a two-day break is made. When no treatments are made, bedding does not change.
In some cases, a single use of sulfuric ointment is suggested. The patient rubs the drug into the skin for two hours, after moisturizing the body with soapy water. Then the powder is covered with talcum powder. Three days later, a person washes and changes clothes.
Wood ash
This folk remedy has worked well in the elimination of a disease such as scabies. The first signs on the stomach and elsewhere are well cured in this way. Wood ash contains a sufficient amount of sulfur compounds. They are able to destroy the tick. An ointment is prepared from this product in a ratio of 30/70. Such a tool is used like any other sulfuric ointment.
You can also prepare an infusion. A glass of ash and two glasses of water are stirred and boiled for about twenty minutes. Then the resulting liquid is filtered. The finished precipitate is rubbed into the skin, moistening it with previously prepared liquor. Such procedures are done during the week for thirty minutes at night.
Kerosene treatment
Kerosene and any vegetable oil will be required. The components are mixed in equal proportions. Within two or three days, the entire skin is smeared at night, stockings, underwear, mittens are also processed. In the morning you can wash your body and change clothes. For a complete cure, as a rule, two or three procedures are enough. Using this method in the treatment of children, one should be careful, as there is a risk of dermatitis.
After the procedure, all the patient’s underwear and clothing should be thoroughly boiled. Iron other things with a hot iron or ventilate in clean air for about a week. If a group of people get sick with scabies, then treatment should begin at the same time.
New Therapies
In modern medicine, such medications are used to combat scabies: Crotamiton, Spregal, Permethrin, Lindane. They are released in the form of a solution, cream or aerosol.
Using Crotamiton
This is an external drug. Before use, you need to test for the sensitivity of the patient to it. A cream or lotion is best used. After a shower, the drug should be carefully rubbed into the skin, starting from the chin, ending with the toes. After a day, the procedure should be repeated. A lot of attention when applying should be paid to the places of the bends. The next day you need to change clothes and take a shower. If necessary, treatment can be repeated.
Medication "Spregal"
Before using this drug, a microflora sensitivity test should also be performed. It is recommended to apply the product in the evenings, so that its main effect occurs at night.Spray the drug should be at a distance of 20-30 centimeters from the surface of the integument. Preventive treatment should be carried out by all family members. The medicine is not applied only to the head and face.
If within ten days the symptoms of the disease do not go away, then a second course of therapy is necessary. Scabies, the first signs, photos - everything was paid attention to in the article.
If, in addition to the scabies mite, the patient has eczema, then before treatment with Spregal (per day), glucocorticoid ointment should be rubbed into the affected areas. If we are dealing with children, then when treating the skin with a spray, it is necessary to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue, and when changing diapers or diapers, re-treat the buttocks area.
It is important to recognize the signs of scabies in children on time. A photo of her manifestations on the face is presented below. If large areas of the skin are severely affected, then they can also be treated with Spregal. But you need to do this not from a spray, but with a cotton swab. If suddenly the product gets into your eyes, they must be thoroughly washed with water.
In the case of a timely start of treatment and in the normal state of the immune system, scabies passes quickly, the patient is fully restored. Only in rare neglected cases can the disease lead to rheumatic heart disease, as well as post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
How to prevent infection?
Everyone should have information on what scabies is. The first signs and photos of the disease, which are described and posted in our article, should help the victim make the right decision and objectively assess the situation in order to begin effective treatment.
Although many people think that scabies infection depends on good hygiene, this is not the case. The itch mite is not afraid of either water or soap. Therefore, trying to independently destroy parasites with a regular shower is useless. It is necessary to consult specialists, and only experienced doctors can correctly identify the disease and prescribe treatment.