Scabies – Itchy Skin Infection by Mites!
“Scabies”. It even sounds daunting by the name. The thought of mites burrowing into your skin is certainly not a pleasant one. However, that’s exactly what scabies is. Tiny mites tunnel into the upper layers of your skin and lay their eggs there. This results in the appearance of small itchy bumps on your skin. The traces of the mite’s burrow appear on the skin surface as abrupt dark red lines. Furthermore, unlike most skin diseases, this one IS contagious. It spread through direct contact of skin. So, if your child has scabies, it is a smart idea to keep him/her home from school from few days in quarantine.
Symptoms of Scabies
- Intense itching
- Thick scabs
- Blisters
- Bumps
- Oozing of puss from bumps
It commonly appears on the arms and legs, as well as hidden parts of the body, like between toes and under armpits.
Warnings!
- If your child has scabies, do not allow him to itch. It could lead to infection of the scabies infected area with bacteria. Scabies infected skin is more prone to such infection.
- Consult a dermatologist or physician. Scabies needs to be treated by a doctor. He will probably prescribe a lotion that kills the mites.
- Although skin contact is the most prevalent method of spreading, mites can survive for up to 3 days in clothing and other linen. If a member of your family has scabies, clothing and carpets should be thoroughly cleaned to destroy all mites in the home.
