skin disorders
Scabies Infestation
Introduction
Scabies is a parasitic skin infestation caused by mites. Scabies usually spreads from person to person through physical contact. People with scabies have severe itching, even though there are typically few mites on the body. Doctors diagnose scabies by examining the itchy areas and sometimes by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope. Treatments of scabies includepermethrinorspinosadapplied to the skin andivermectintaken by mouth. Overview of Parasitic Infections are organisms that live on or inside another organism (the host) and depend on the host for nutrition to live. The mites that cause scabies are parasites because they live by feeding on a person's blood. . Infestations occur worldwide. The female mite bites and tunnels into the topmost layer of the skin and deposits her eggs in burrows. Young mites (larvae) then hatch in a few days. The infestation causes intense itching, probably due to an allergic reaction to the mites. (See also Mite Bites .) The infestation spreads easily from person to person through physical contact, often spreading through an entire household. Human mites can live on fomites, which are physical objects such as towels, bedding, and clothing, from which they can infect people. However, once away from the human body, mites do not live very long. Animal mites may be spread to humans and cause itching, but they do not live very long or require treatment. Mites that cause scabies are usually destroyed by normal laundering (machine washing in hot water followed by drying in a hot dryer or ironing) or dry cleaning. The main risk factor is crowded conditions (as in schools, shelters, barracks, and some households). Scabies is not related to poor hygiene. 