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What are Scabies?
Scabies is an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes
scabei. Infestation is common, found worldwide, and affects people
of all races and social classes. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded
conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people,
such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing
homes. Read more about Scabies... |
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How did I get Scabies?
By direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person already
infested with scabies. Contact must be prolonged (a quick handshake
or hug will usually not spread infestation). Infestation is easily
spread to sexual partners and household members. Infestation may
also occur by sharing clothing, towels, and bedding. Read more about
the how
Scabies gets transmitted...
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What do Scabies look like?
Sarcoptes scabei undergoes four stages in its life cycle; egg,
larva, nymph and adult. Read more about what
Scabies looks like...
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Did my pet spread scabies to me?
No. Pets become infested with a different kind of scabies mite.
If your pet is infested with scabies, (also called mange) and they
have close contact with you, the mite can get under your skin and
cause itching and skin irritation. However, the mite dies in a couple
of days and does not reproduce. The mites may cause you to itch
for several days, but you do not need to be treated with special
medication to kill the mites. Until your pet is successfully treated,
mites can continue to burrow into your skin and cause you to have
symptoms. Read more about Scabies
and Pets...
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What are the signs and symptoms of Scabies infestation?
For a person who has never been infested with scabies, symptoms may
take 4-6 weeks to begin. For a person who has had scabies, symptoms
appear within several days. You do not become immune to an infestation.
- Pimple-like irritations, burrows or rash of the skin, especially
the webbing between the fingers; the skin folds on the wrist,
elbow, or knee; the penis, the breast, or shoulder blades.
- Intense itching, especially at night and over most of the body.
- Sores on the body caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes
become infected with bacteria.
Read more about Scabies
Signs and Symptoms
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Can Scabies be treated?
Yes. Kleen Freei is an excellent way to treat the infestation.
Always follow the directions provided by your physician or the directions
on the package insert. All clothes, bedding, and towels used by
the infested person 2 days before treatment should be washed in
hot water; dry in a hot dryer. Follow the directions for repeat
treatments. Read more about Scabies
Treatment
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How is Scabies infestation diagnosed?
Diagnosis is most commonly made by looking at the burrows or rash.
A skin scraping may be taken to look for mites, eggs, or mite fecal
matter to confirm the diagnosis. If a skin scraping or biopsy is
taken and returns negative, it is possible that you may still be
infested. Typically, there are fewer than 10 mites on the entire
body of an infested person; this makes it easy for an infestation
to be missed. Read more about Scabies
Diagnosis
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Who is at risk for severe infestation?
People with weakened immune systems and the elderly are at risk
for a more severe form of scabies, called Norwegian or crusted scabies.
Read more about Scabies
Infestation
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How long will mites live?
Once away from the human body, mites do not survive more than 48-72
hours. When living on a person, an adult female mite can live up to
a month. |
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Who should be treated for scabies?
Anyone who is diagnosed with scabies, as well as his or her sexual
partners and persons who have close, prolonged contact to the infested
person should also be treated. If your health care provider has instructed
family members to be treated, everyone should receive treatment at
the same time to prevent reinfestation. Read more about who should
be treated for Scabies
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Scabies Articles -
9/2/2010
Scabies mites can be transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact
with an infected person or by using clothing, blankets, sheets,
towels or furniture that has touched an infected person's skin.
Because scabies often spreads during the close physical contact
of sexual activity, it is classified as a sexually transmitted disease
(STD)...
Read more articles about
Scabies..
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