The Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority warned today, Thursday, of the danger of the spread of skin diseases in general, and scabies in particular, among prisoners. What is this disease? What are its symptoms? And what is the treatment?
The Commission said that scabies has become a real threat to the lives of prisoners, and has prompted the occupation prison administration to close a number of prisons and detention centers to lawyers’ visits due to this disease.
What is scabies?
Scabies is a skin condition caused by the mite Sarcoptes scarbiei, which causes a severe, itchy rash. Scabies is most often spread through direct contact with an infected person. Prescription medications can kill the mites and relieve symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Scabies is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which burrows under the skin to live, feed, defecate and lay eggs. The skin reacts to the mite by developing an itchy rash and also reacts with allergies.
Scabies spreads easily from person to person, especially among people who live close together. If one family member has scabies, the health care provider should test and treat other family members and close contacts at the same time.
Scabies is a worldwide problem but occurs most often in crowded tropical areas, especially in countries with limited resources. But it can affect people of all ages, races, and economic status, and has nothing to do with how clean or hygienic you are. Health care providers treat scabies with medicated creams that you apply to your skin or medications that you take by mouth.
Types of scabies
Classic scabies
It causes a rash and itching, and is caused by the presence of 10-15 mites.
Crusted (Norwegian) scabies
This type occurs most often in people with weakened immune systems. It tends to form scaly areas that cover a large area of skin. If you have crusted scabies, you may have millions of mites instead of the 10 to 15 mites you have in classic scabies.
Nodular scabies
This type is more common in children and affects their genitals, groin, or armpits. The raised bumps can remain long after the mites are gone.
How common is scabies?
Scabies affects more than 400 million people worldwide each year. It is generally more common in tropical countries that lack medical resources, but it can still occur anywhere.
Scabies symptoms
- Rash.
- Severe itching, which gets worse at night and may make it difficult to sleep.
- Painful sores or bumps that sometimes become infected from scratching.
- Pits or bumps that appear as raised, skin-colored lines.
- Children with scabies may itch all over their bodies and may be irritable or tired from lack of sleep due to itching at night.
Scabies causes an extremely itchy rash on your skin. It can take up to 6 weeks for the rash to appear if you’ve never had scabies before. If you’ve had scabies before, you’ll likely develop a rash within a few days.
The rash spreads slowly over weeks or months.
Where do scabies mites live on your body?
Scabies mites live in folds and crevices of the skin. Common mite locations include:
- The creases between the fingers and toes.
- Folds in the thighs and genital area.
- Bends at the wrists and knees.
- The area around the waist.
- Under the nails.
- Under rings, watch bands and bracelets.
- The area around the nipples.
Can I see scabies mites?
Scabies mites are very small, about the size of a pinhead, and are difficult to see. They are white to creamy white in color. They have 8 legs and a round body, and you can see them if you hold the mite under a microscope.
What does scabies rash look like?
The rash can appear in different colors depending on your skin tone. For example, it can appear red, brown, or gray. The rash can look like hives, insect bites, or pimples, and it can even appear in a line across the skin.
How is scabies transmitted?
Scabies mites are spread from person to person, and direct skin-to-skin contact is the easiest way to spread scabies. Less commonly, you can also get scabies by sharing bedding, clothing, or towels with someone who has the disease.
Scabies complications
Scabies can cause complications such as:
- Painful skin sores.
- Sepsis (blood infection).
- Heart disease.
- Kidney disease.
The World Health Organization says that most people will have 10 to 15 scabies mites. People with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS, may develop crusted (Norwegian) scabies. This severe infestation can involve thousands or millions of mites and causes dry, scaly areas of skin that are often not itchy. Crusted scabies spreads very easily and can cause secondary infection, a life-threatening condition.
The scabies mite penetrates the upper layer of the skin, and inside it the adult female lays her eggs. The eggs hatch within 3-4 days and develop into adult mites within a period ranging from one to two weeks. After 4-6 weeks, the patient suffers an allergic reaction to the presence of proteins and mite feces in the scabies tunnel, causing severe itching and a rash.
The organization adds that the effects of scabies mites on immunity, as well as the direct effects of scratching, can lead to the inoculation of the skin with bacteria, leading to the appearance of impetigo, especially in tropical areas.
Impetigo may be exacerbated by deeper skin infections such as abscesses or serious illness, including sepsis. In tropical areas, skin infections associated with scabies are a common risk factor for kidney disease and possibly rheumatic heart disease. Acute kidney damage has been reported in up to 10% of children with scabies in resource-poor settings. In many of these settings, this acute damage persists for years after infection, contributing to permanent kidney damage.
Scabies treatment
Treatment for scabies may involve medication that you apply directly to your skin or medication that you swallow. The goal of treatment is to kill the mites, although you may still itch for weeks afterward. The medication cannot kill the mite eggs, so you may need to repeat the treatment if symptoms persist.
Creams, lotions or ointments
Health care providers may prescribe a cream, lotion, or ointment to treat scabies. Apply the medicine to your entire body from your neck down, including your hands, palms, and feet. Children with scabies may need medicine on their face and scalp.
Follow the directions on the package or from your health care provider. Most creams need to stay on your skin for 8 to 14 hours. In most cases, you will apply the medication before bed and wash it off in the morning.
Your doctor may prescribe the following topical medications:
- Permethrin cream.
- Crotamiton cream or lotion.
- Benzyl benzoate lotion.
- Sulfur ointment.
pharmaceutical
Medications you take by mouth are another option. Your doctor may recommend oral medications if you need stronger medication or if you can’t use topical medications.
Ivermectin is the most common medication for scabies. It is an antiparasitic pill given as a single dose, followed by a second dose one to two weeks later. Children weighing less than 35 pounds (15 kilograms) and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take this medication.
Other medications your doctor may recommend include:
- Antihistamines (to help with itching).
- Antibiotics (if you have an infection).
- Steroid creams (for redness and swelling).
When does scabies rash go away?
The red bumps on your skin should disappear within 4 weeks after treatment.
When to eradicate scabies mites?
A single treatment with a topical cream or pill kills the mites that cause scabies. You may have a rash or itching for up to two weeks, but the mites usually die after a single dose of medication.
When does scabies itch stop?
Itching may take 2 to 4 weeks to go away (even when all the mites are dead).
Does scabies go away on its own?
No, scabies will not go away on its own. Only prescription medications can treat it. If you don’t treat scabies, you will likely continue to spread the disease to other people. In addition, constant itching can lead to continued scratching and skin infection.
Is it hard to get rid of scabies?
Scabies can be treated, but it can be difficult to get rid of completely. Some forms of scabies, such as the crusted form, are more difficult to treat. In addition, you may need more than one round of treatment to make sure all the mites are gone.
Scabies prevention
You can prevent the spread of scabies by:
- Wash bed sheets, towels, and clothing in hot water and place in the dryer.
- Make sure to check your family members and others in close contact with you for scabies.
- Limit close contact with others if you receive a scabies diagnosis.
- Place non-washable items such as stuffed animals, large pillows, and toys in large trash bags. Place the bags in the garage or basement for about 7 days. Mites on these surfaces die within a few days without human skin, and you can then remove the items from the bags and hand wash them.
If my child has scabies, when can he return to school?
In most cases, your child can return to school the day after starting treatment. If you are an adult, you can return to work after starting treatment. Check with your health care provider to be sure.
Can a person get scabies more than once?
Yes. You can get scabies any time you come into close contact with someone who has it.
Can scabies mites live in bedding?
Scabies mites can live temporarily on or in bedding, but they need human skin to survive. Scabies mites can appear on almost anything—furniture, clothing, or surfaces—but die after a few days.
Can dirty sheets cause scabies?
Dirty sheets do not cause scabies because the disease is not related to cleanliness or personal hygiene, but scabies can be spread from person to person through bed sheets.