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It won’t be wrong if we name Scabies as the ‘Itching disease’ because the itching produced with this skin disease is extremely severe. Scabies is one skin disorder which is very common all around the world. It occurs when the human scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei, Acarus hominis) infest the skin. This bug actually cannot survive outside the human skin. It other words, it is an obligate parasite. The female mite is responsible for causing scabies. It penetrates the skin and lays eggs. The affected person becomes sensitive to the waste products of the mites and this leads to various symptoms.

One can get scabies by coming in contact with a person who is already suffering from this skin disorder. Scabies is known for the severe itching it produces. The physical signs are all due to the excessive itching and scratching. Vesicles are commonly seen on skin which looks excoriated. If the skin becomes secondarily infected, one can also see oozing and crusting. The burrow which the mite makes on the skin can also be seen sometimes.

The scabies lesions are often seen on palms, flexural creases, interdigital area, lower abdomen, genitalia, buttock folds, aloes and ankles. Head and neck are usually spared except in infants. A person with a strong immune system is not likely to have many lesions. On the other hand, patients suffering from AIDS, who are severely immune compromised, will have a number of eruptions. This type of scabies is known as Norwegian scabies, which is a very severe and crusted form of scabies. It can also be seen in patients who are receiving immunosuppressive drugs for various reasons.

Scabies is usually diagnosed clinically. Severe itching with excoriation is often suggestive of this skin disorder. Not very often, the burrow can be seen on skin. These burrows created by the mite are grey-white in appearance. They are linear and raised. Skin scrapings from the affected site can show the mite or its eggs. Skin surface biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis.

Scabies is a very infectious disease so once someone has been diagnosed with it, treatment should be started immediately. This is important to prevent its spread. All the family members of the affected individual should also be treated simultaneously. The medications used for treating scabies are- Permethrin, Malathion, Crotamiton and Monosulfiram.

The lotion needs to be applied all over the body except face and neck. One should always take bath with hot water before applying the lotion. Next bath can be taken only after 24 hours of applying the lotion. These are some general rules which one need to follow when undergoing treatment for scabies. Scabies is related to hygiene so if you keep yourself and your surroundings clean, there are very less chances that you are going to get it. Waste disposal at home should also be done properly. All such measures can definitely prevent the spread of Scabies.