A dermatologist can recognize most skin diseases by photo. The signs of scabies and in humans cannot be confused with the symptoms of another disease. This is a parasitic skin disease caused by the scabies mite.
Is this ailment dangerous
If possible, you should carefully consider the photo of signs of scabies in humans. Everyone should know how this infectious disease manifests itself. The disease is caused by a microscopic parasite, which moves along the scabies in the skin, giving patients a lot of discomfort. The first signs of scabies in a person (in the photo the symptoms look less realistic) is a specific rash and intolerable itching.
This disease is directly related to the sanitary and hygienic living conditions and population density: the more people live in the same room, the easier it is to become infected. In the absence of proper treatment, the parasite can exist under the skin for more than one year.
Let's try to get a detailed idea of the symptoms of scabies in the photo. The first signs of this disease in the pictures could be confused with eczema and dermatitis, if not for the so-called scabies. This is a specific difference of the disease, the causative agent of which is a small tick. The second name for this parasite is itching.
Scabies belongs to the group of acarodermatitis. In the International Classification of Diseases, code B86 refers to this pathology. The official name for the disease is acariasis. A characteristic feature of the pathology is a painful and constantly itchy papular-vesicular rash. It has a red tint on most photos of a person with signs of scabies. Treatment of the disease can be delayed due to the attachment of a bacterial infection and the appearance of secondary pustular formations.
Scabies mite
In order for the pathogen to penetrate the skin, 20 minutes are enough. Due to such a short time period, it is almost impossible to prevent the introduction of the parasite. The itch itch passes to the new host by contact.
Special attention should be paid to the parasite reproduction cycle and the nuances of their vital functions. Male scabies mite always dies on the surface of the epidermis after fertilization of the female. The seeded female penetrates the epidermis, creating passages for the eggs on the border between the horny and basal layers of the skin. To continue the genus, females lay 5-7 eggs. At night, parasites come to the surface to make intercourse, so itching intensifies at this time of day. After deposition of the larvae, the female dies after 20-30 days.
To date, disputes regarding the route of transmission of the scabies pathogen do not stop. Many experts are sure that you can get infected with acariasis using a common towel, as well as shaking hands. The itch is rather weak and not adapted to environmental conditions, in comparison with the same cockroaches. This can be understood simply by looking at the photo of the itch moves. Signs of scabies in adults are barely noticeable at first. The tick itself is so tiny that some initially do not attach any importance to the appearance of a rash.
In the fight against scabies, it is important to destroy the pathogen that settles not only under the patient’s skin, but is also present on his clothes, bedding. The average life cycle of the parasite is no more than five days, and when exposed to a temperature of +60 ° C, the itch dies in less than an hour. The scabies mite is not adapted to the conditions of minimal humidity.
Today, more and more authors of medical works are sure that scabies should be considered one of the sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, for infection with acariasis, as well as pubic pediculosis, the fact of not coition itself is important, but prolonged tactile contact, contact with the skin in bed.
What happens at the initial stage of the disease
You can understand that the parasite has invaded the flesh by the appearance of typical rashes on the body. Signs of scabies in a person become noticeable when parasites gnaw through passages in the skin. Once on the skin of a person, the female scabies mite begins to drill passages in the upper layer of the epidermis. Then she lays eggs in a previously prepared place. Larvae quickly turn into adults.
In the evenings and nights, ticks move under the skin, so itching intensifies. If you recognize the itch moves in time, the number of which at the initial stage is single, the disease can be quickly cured.
Types of disease
Scabies is classified according to the severity of manifestations and the prevalence of rashes throughout the body. There are several main types of scabies in humans. In the photo, the signs of the disease are difficult to recognize, but it can still be concluded that the most common form of acariasis is typical. Most often, children suffer from it. The characteristic features of its manifestations can be found in most photos of adults with symptoms of scabies. How this type of disease manifests itself is known to every dermatologist. Patients complain of pain in the foci of rashes and itching, especially intensifying at night.
The Norwegian form of acariasis is severe. This type of scabies is usually diagnosed in adults. In childhood, the disease occurs with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency. First of all, HIV-infected people with cancer are susceptible to Norwegian scabies . This form is characterized by the formation of large passages of the tick and a significant area of damage. Patients experience severe discomfort, suffer from severe inflammation and the formation of pustules over the rash.
Scabies, which occurs without the formation of specific subcutaneous passages, are distinguished by parasitization of larvae not under the upper layer of the epidermis, but directly on it. With this pathology, papules and vesicles are formed. The duration of the disease is 2-3 weeks.
A complicated form of scabies is considered nodular. She is characterized by the appearance of flaky smooth seals of a tiny size. Rashes resemble small reddish nodules. Such scabies recurs or develops against the background of re-infection.
In comparison with nodular acariasis, the grain form of scabies is impossible to notice. In this case, the epidermis is affected by a pot-bellied tick, which usually parasitizes on insects and can be found in straw, grain for a long time. A rash in patients usually appears on the neck, back, and forearms. After treatment, the rash does not immediately go away: they can last for several months.
The course of the discrete form of acariasis is the least painful. The areas of the skin into which the ticks penetrate do not itch, and there is no inflammation typical of scabies. In this case, parasites are localized under the skin pointwise.
In addition to the usual forms of scabies, an atypical pseudo-frequency occurs. It is caused by scabies mites that live on the epithelium of animals. Such parasites do not pave the way, but provoke inflammation and itching. Unlike other forms, pseudo-scab is not transmitted from person to person. Such a disease does not require specific treatment, since these parasites are not able to survive on the human body.
Incubation period
To gain a foothold in a new place, the parasites need some time, during which the patient will not notice any signs of scabies. In humans, the latent period of acariasis lasts about 5-8 weeks. The duration of the incubation period depends on the state of the immune system, the number of pathogens and the degree of their activity.
As a rule, after 1.5-2 months after infection, the same signs appear as in most photos, signs of scabies in humans. Treatment begins immediately after confirmation of the diagnosis by laboratory analysis. If the infection occurs repeatedly, acariasis symptoms may occur earlier.
Three main symptoms
Based on the name of this disease, it is easy to make an assumption about the main symptom of scabies in humans. The treatment of acariasis primarily involves not only the fight against ticks, but also with itching. This is the main symptom that becomes more pronounced at a later time of the day.
The second typical sign of scabies in humans is the appearance of painful rashes on the body. Acne-typical pimples appear anyway, sooner or later, despite the fact that some patients may have a blurred clinical picture. Moreover, for the examination and diagnosis, more important is not so much the locality of the tick, as its belonging to a particular species.
Unlike a number of other dermatological problems, scabies form scabies with scabies, the length of which reaches an average of several cm. The scabies parasite leaves streaks, peculiar paths of gray, yellowish or white. As soon as the female lays eggs in a new “mink”, papules and vesicles form at the exit.
Where rashes are localized
Most often, signs of scabies in humans are found in the interdigital spaces of the hands and on the back of the palms. If untreated, the rash quickly spreads to the body. An itch mite can live on the feet and ankles, the inner surfaces of the thighs, the flexion surfaces of the forearms and shoulders, and the wrist joints. Parasites cause the most anxiety, localized on the chest, in the umbilical region and in the armpits. In advanced cases, external manifestations of acariasis are found in the genital area and buttocks.
After a few weeks, the nature of the rashes changes. As a result of the reaction of the body to the products of parasite vital activity, pimples become papular or vesicular, sometimes pustular eruptions, bloody crusts appear. The rash is localized symmetrically on both sides.
As manifested in children
If scabies has occurred in at least one member of the family, the visit to the dermatologist cannot be avoided by the rest of the household. At the initial stage, the signs of scabies in children in the photo look a little different. For example, in infants, rashes are more reminiscent of urticaria, since they consist of numerous vesicles, the same ones that occur when a nettle burns.
In a child with acariasis, the entire surface of the skin, including the face and scalp, is most often affected. In many photos, signs of scabies in children have purulent complications.
Diagnostic Features
Suspicions of scabies usually occur with the appearance of severe itching and characteristic rashes, noticeable scabies. This disease can be recognized by typical symptoms, but in order to make an accurate diagnosis, the patient will need to undergo a laboratory examination.
To confirm acariasis, the patient is prescribed the following types of manipulations:
- scraping from the affected areas and applying 40% of lactic acid to them;
- coloring of the skin with tincture of iodine: if the tick passages acquire a dark brown shade, there is no doubt about the diagnosis;
- detection of parasites using instrumental diagnostic methods (video dermatoscope);
- removal of a tick from the skin and its detailed examination under a microscope.
When contacting a dermatologist online, you may need a photo with signs of scabies.
How to treat in adults
Acariasis itself is not dangerous, but if you do not take any measures to get rid of this ailment, the situation may become complicated. First of all, a person with signs of scabies needs to undergo treatment in order to prevent the attachment of a bacterial infection and not to spread the disease in society.
Since scabies is contagious and quickly passes from a sick person to a healthy person, treatment of the patient is carried out either at home or in the walls of the inpatient facility. Therapy consists in the use of special external agents with a certain periodicity. Usually, drugs are applied in the dark, because in the evening and at night the parasites are most active.
Most drugs for scabies have contraindications and side effects, so you should not engage in self-medication, especially for children or pregnant women. Before applying the drug to the skin, you should carefully study the instructions. An effective treatment will be only if:
- not only the sick person will be using the medicine, but also those who are in contact with it;
- daily change and boil underwear;
- treat all affected areas of the body, except for the face and head;
- wash several times a day with soap before treatment and 4 hours after it;
- apply drugs every 12 hours.
Drug List
A positive trend will be evidenced by a decrease in the severity of signs of scabies in humans. Today, for the treatment of acariasis, local drugs such as:
- "Benzyl benzoate." It is an inexpensive but potent remedy. The optimal duration of the course of its use is determined by the attending physician, depending on the degree of damage to the skin. On average, a three-day use is enough to affect parasites. The drug also differs in the concentration of the active substance: for children, a 10% concentration is suitable, and for adults - 20. The drug is usually tolerated easily, but burning on the skin is not excluded.
- "Lindane." It has several forms of release - cream, ointment, lotion. The product is smeared with scabies, after which it is left for therapeutic effect for 12 hours or a whole day. 2-3 applications are enough to get rid of parasites.
- "Spregal." The cost of this aerosol can reach up to 1000 rubles. It is convenient to use the product, it does not have any pungent odor, is available in a spray can. "Spregal" is used to treat acariasis in pregnant women and in children under 14 years of age. Signs of scabies disappear after two-time treatment with a three-day interval. The medication is applied to the skin in the evening after a shower and left on the body for 12 hours.
- Crotamiton. This drug has a similar effect, it is used in the treatment of pregnant women and newborn babies.
- Permethrin. The medicine from the budget spectrum has a lot of trade names (“Medifoks”, “Nyx Cream”, “Hygia”). The tool is rubbed once into the affected areas and washed off after 10-14 hours.
- Esdepalletrin. Synthetic aerosol is characterized by a low degree of toxicity and ease of use, but is still prohibited for use in bronchial asthma and breastfeeding.
- "Sulfuric ointment". This is the most affordable medication option for scabies, but they resort to it in the rarest cases. Among the shortcomings of the drug, it is worth noting too thick a greasy consistency, a sharp unpleasant odor and dirty clothes.
Alternative therapy for scabies
Among alternative methods for the treatment of acariasis, some recipes are considered the most effective:
- Celandine ointment. For preparation, fresh leaves are taken, triturated and mixed with petrolatum in a ratio of 1: 4 and another part of carbolic acid is added, due to which the composition becomes toxic. The resulting ointment needs to be lubricated with rashes every day.
- An external remedy of bay leaves. Dry laurel leaves are crushed in a coffee grinder, then soft butter is added to them, they are thoroughly mixed and applied to places affected by the scabies mite.
- Birch tar. This is the safest treatment for scabies. When the first signs of the disease appear, clean birch tar must be applied to the skin. It can also be part of the ointment along with such components as sulfur powder, grated laundry soap, pork lard. All components are taken in equal amounts, mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained, which is sent to a cold place for a day. Ready ointment lubricate the scabies rash.
Judging by the reviews, folk remedies really help many to relieve itching, eliminate other unpleasant symptoms of acariasis, but few managed to get rid of parasites with their help. In the fight against scabies mites, only potent medicines are effective.
What can be the complications
Scabies does not entail any special problems if antiparasitic therapy is started on time. Complications can develop both against the background of typical and against the background of atypical forms of acariasis. Without treatment, the wounds will start to emit a fetid odor, and the very site of the mite lesion will begin to get wet and get very sick. In complicated cases, scabies can provoke the appearance of dermatitis, eczema, pyoderma.
Acariasis itself does not threaten the life and health of the patient. Complications of the disease arise due to combing of itchy wounds and infection, which without treatment can even lead to sepsis.
What you need to do to not get infected with scabies
Prevention of acariasis as an infectious disease is based on the principles of compliance with basic hygiene rules in everyday life. The cause of human infection is sanitary illiteracy and the lack of the necessary skills to maintain cleanliness in the home. A huge role in preventing mass morbidity belongs to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, economic well-being and raising the cultural level of the population for the most part.
Each individual case of infection with scabies requires immediate treatment, disinsection of the patient’s clothing, underwear and bedding. In this case, one should not forget to periodically examine the skin of other people who are surrounded by the patient.