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Highlighted Disease

Scabies

Definition:

This is a contagious skin disease caused by a parasitic mite. The mite burrows into the skin and causes an intensely itchy rash.

• Who is at risk?
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

What else should I know?

Details of other illness

Source: Quality HealthCare Medical Services

Who is at risk?

• People living in crowded conditions
• People who live or work in institutions or prisons
• Patients and workers in hospitals and nursing homes
• Students, teachers, and caregivers in day-care centers
• People who have multiple sex partners

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Symptoms:

• Intense itching, often worse at night
• A characteristic rash, typically affecting the skin between the fingers, and often involving the genitalia, the breast and the skin folds at the wrists, knees, elbows and armpits.
• Some patients may develop bumps or nodules on the affected areaOther family members often have similar symptoms.

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Treatment:

Scabies can be treated with topical medicine applied to the skin. Many chemicals can kill the mite, but the doctor needs to consider the patient's age and sensitivity in order to prescribe the right treatment. The medication needs to be applied from neck to toe after bathing and must be remained on the skin overnight before being washed off. Sometimes a second application may be needed. The rash and itchiness may linger for weeks after treatment. Close family members and all sexual partners must be treated at the same time even they have no symptoms.

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Prevention:

• Do not share clothing and towels.
• If you work in institutions, reflect to the management if there is overcrowding. Report suspicious cases and take infection precautions.
• If someone in your household has been diagnosed with scabies, wash the clothing, bedding and towels in hot water. Dry clean items with high temperature that you can't wash at home. Clothing that cannot be washed should be sealed in plastic bags and stored for approximately one month before being used again.

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