Scabies
Scabies belongs to a group of parasitic diseases. It is rather contagious. The disease is caused by mites Sarcoptes scabiei. The leading symptom of the infection is itchiness.
The mites are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact or by sexual contact with an infected person. The additional way of transmission includes sharing clothes, towels and bedding with an infected person. The infected person develops symptoms approximately 8 weeks after the exposure to mites.
Treatment for Scabies
After the itchiness occurs and a patient assumes he/she has scabies it is best to visit a doctor. Only the doctor can confirm or rule out the infection. Patients are advised to restrain from sexual intercourse until they are cured since this can only lead to spread of the diseases.
Treatment for scabies includes permethrin cream and malathion lotion. Majority of patients are firstly prescribed permethrin. Malathion is the second choice and is given in patients who have not got better after administration of permethrin. Special precaution needs to be taken in case of administration of permethrin in pregnant women and children between 2 months and 2 years of age. Malathion is forbidden in pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding.
Both of these medications are applied to dry and cool skin. They are not supposed to be applied while the skin is still hot after a bath. The whole skin should be covered in lotions. This particularly refers to skin folds. In adults the area above neck should not be covered in lotion. This does not refer to children. The eyes and the mouth are not supposed to be covered in lotion.
If an infected person washes hands frequently it is essential that he/she reapplies the lotion or a cream each and every time after they have washed their hands.
The medications are administered in all the members of the family. This way re-occurrence of the disease is successfully avoided.
Itchiness that is caused by the infection can be treated with mild steroid creams. Calamine lotion is another solution for this bothersome symptoms and it is available over-the-counter. Itchiness can be also reduced with oral antihistamines. On the other hand, oral antihistamines may lead to sleepiness which has to be taken into consideration in people who are operating heavy machinery.
Side Effects of the Therapy
These medications also have certain side effects. They include itching, irritation of the skin, numbness of certain body areas, and tingling or stinging sensations. If any of the previously mentioned side effects occur the patient is due to report them to the doctor.
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