Scabies - The simple facts and the cures

What is Scabies: Scabies is a very itchy condition of the skin caused by a tiny mite.

What causes Scabies: Scabies is caused by a tiny mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite is smaller than a pinhead and can live about 24 hours at room temperature away from the human body, they are too small to be seen without magnification. The mite digs into the outer layer of skin and lays eggs, which hatch in 3-6 days. After hatching, the newly born mites leave the burrow and move to other skin surfaces and repeat the cycle. People used to say that folks that were dirty were the ones that got scabies, this is not true, anyone can get them.

Symptoms Of Scabies: Scabies produces severe itching, particularly at night as you lay under warm blankets or other covers. The areas of the skin most affected by scabies include the webbing between the fingers and sides of the fingers, around the wrists, elbows and armpits, waist, thighs, genitals, and lower buttocks. The mite burrows into the skin, especially around the hands, feet, and male genitalia. It does not usually affect the neck and head, although it may in very small children and infants. The intense itching is due to an allergic reaction to the tiny mites, and is associated with a rash of red, raised spots.

Treatment For Scabies: Skin lotions containing permethrin, lindane or crotamiton are available through a doctor for the treatment of scabies. The lotions are applied to the whole body except the head and neck. Sometimes, itching may persist but should not be regarded as treatment failure or reinfestation. Persons who have had skin contact with an infested person (including family members, roommates, direct care providers and sexual contacts) should also be treated. To avoid reinfestation, Wash all clothes, underwear and bedding in hot water and dry in the clothes dryer to eliminate any further spread of the mite. Vacuum carpets and upholstery and any brushes, combs, barrettes and other items the infected person(s) had contact with should be washed in hot water and soap also.

Scabies Prevention: When you hear of someone in your home having scabies or an out-break in school or some other place, regularly change and wash all clothing, bedding, and other laundry items in very hot water with strong soap Don't allow children to share clothes or other personal items such as brushes, combs or towels with each other.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and other great information on Scabies and numerous medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:

http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

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