1. SCABIES
LeTreon Clea
4th Block

2. What is Scabies?
Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin condition caused by an infestation by the itch mite
Scabies is found  among people of all groups and ages around the world.
Scabies spread by skin-to-skin contact with another person has scabies.
Less often it can be spread by sharing clothes or bedding. Sometimes whole families are affected
Outbreaks of scabies are more common in nursing homes, nursing facilities, college dorms, and child care centers.
Scabies mites are very sensitive to their environment. They can only live off of a host body for hours under most conditions

3. What is Scabies? (continued)
Scabies can be prevented by not having close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has scabies or with their personal items (such as clothes, towels, and brushes) will help you avoid getting scabies. People who have scabies are encouraged to use care to prevent spreading the mites to others. The skin infection scabies isn't necessarily passed on during sex, but as it involves close physical contact it's a possible method of transmission.

4. Causes
Sexual physical contact, however, can transmit the disease. In fact, sexual contact is the most common form of transmission among sexually active young people, and scabies has been considered by many to be a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).
Sexual or other close contact (such as hugging) is required to spread the condition.
Scabies spread by skin-to-skin contact with another person has scabies.
Less often it can be spread by sharing clothes or bedding. Sometimes whole families are affected

5. Symptoms Itching, most commonly at night
Rashes mostly between the fingers
Sores (abrasions) on the skin from scratching and digging
Thin, pencil-mark lines on the skin
Mites may be more widespread on a baby's skin, causing pimples over the trunk, or small blisters over the palms and soles.
In young children, the infection may be on the head, neck, shoulders, palms, and soles of feet. 
In older children and adults, the infection may be on the hands, wrists, genitals, and abdomen.

6. Risk Factors
Scabies can infest any human who comes in contact with the mites. The only known risk factor is direct skin contact with someone who is infested

7. Treatment
Curing scabies is rather easy with the administration of prescription scabicide drugs. There are no approved over-the-counter preparations that have been proved to be effective in eliminating scabies.
To cure scabies you can …..
Use cream applications
Take oral medications
Take antihistamines
Wash Linens and Bedclothes
Scabies can be prevented by avoiding close personal contact with infested people. Sexual contacts and household members of people who develop scabies can be treated as soon as the condition is identified so that they will not develop the signs or symptoms of the condition.

8. Additional Information
Treat sexual contacts or relevant family members (who either have symptoms or have the kind of relationship that makes transmission likely).
Cut your nails, and clean under them thoroughly to remove any mites or eggs that may be present.
Thoroughly vacuum your rugs, furniture, bedding, and car interior and throw the vacuum-cleaner bag away when finished.
Try to avoid scratching. Keep any open sores clean.

9. Scabies Mites
The mites that infest humans are female and are 0.3 mm-0.4 mm long; the males are about half this size. Scabies mites can be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope. The scabies mites crawl but are unable to fly or jump.

10. Diagnosis
Scabies is suggested by the presence of the typical rash and symptoms of unrelenting and worsening itch, particularly at night. Ultimately, the definitive diagnosis is made when evidence of mites is found from a skin scraping test
By scraping the skin (covered with a drop of mineral oil) sideways with a scalpel blade over an area of a burrow and examining the scrapings microscopically, it is possible to identify mites, eggs, or pellets.

11. SCABIES The affect on a pregnant woman and her baby Complications
The Vigorous scratching can break your skin and allow a secondary bacterial infection. Impetigo is a superficial infection of the skin that's caused most often by staph bacteria or occasionally by strep bacteria.
The affect on a pregnant woman and her baby
Scabies can cause a lot of discomfort during pregnancy. Studies have shown that insecticides used to cure scabies can adversely affect the embryo and hence can have a negative impact on the infant. Usually 6-8% of the scabies repellent is absorbed at the time when it is externally applied to the skin.

12. Sources