How Do You Get Scabies? Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. These tiny mites burrow into the top layer of the skin, causing intense itching and a red, bumpy rash. Often misunderstood and stigmatized, scabies can affect anyone, regardless of hygiene or living conditions. In this blog, we’ll break down how scabies is transmitted, how to recognize its symptoms, and ways to treat and prevent it.

What Causes Scabies?

Scabies is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei mites, which are eight-legged parasites that burrow under the skin to live, feed, and lay eggs. Once the female mite burrows into the skin, she lays eggs that hatch within a few days, releasing more mites onto the skin's surface, which can spread to other areas of the body. This cycle continues and leads to the characteristic symptoms of scabies: itching, redness, and rash.

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How Do You Get Scabies?

Scabies is primarily spread through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. The mites do not jump or fly; they crawl slowly, so brief contact like a handshake or a quick hug usually isn’t enough to transmit scabies. However, there are specific scenarios where scabies can spread:

1. Close Physical Contact: The most common way to get scabies is through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. This could be with family members, sexual partners, or other close contacts. Scabies can spread easily in crowded environments, such as nursing homes, schools, and daycare centers, where people are in close proximity for extended periods.
2. Sharing Personal Items: Although less common, scabies mites can survive outside the human body for 24-48 hours. This means they can be transmitted through shared items, such as bedding, towels, or clothing. However, transmission through objects is more likely in cases of "crusted scabies," a severe form of scabies with a much higher mite load.
3. Overcrowded Conditions: Scabies outbreaks often occur in places where people live or work closely together, such as dormitories, refugee camps, or prisons. These environments facilitate prolonged close contact and make scabies easier to spread.
4. Weak Immune System: People with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly or those with certain medical conditions, may be more susceptible to severe forms of scabies and higher mite loads, which increases the likelihood of spreading the mites to others.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Scabies

Scabies symptoms usually appear between 2-6 weeks after the initial exposure. This delay is because the body needs time to react to the mites. However, people who have had scabies before may develop symptoms faster, usually within 1-4 days. Here are the primary signs of scabies:

• Intense Itching: The most common symptom of scabies is intense itching, especially at night. The itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and waste.
• Rash: A red, bumpy rash may develop in the affected areas. This rash often appears as small, raised, pimple-like bumps or blisters.
• Burrow Tracks: Thin, grayish or skin-colored lines may be visible on the skin. These burrows are created by the mites as they move beneath the skin's surface.
• Location of Symptoms: Scabies commonly affects the hands (especially between the fingers), wrists, elbows, armpits, waist, genitals, buttocks, and around the breasts. In children, it may also affect the face, neck, and scalp.

How is Scabies Treated?

Once diagnosed, scabies can be treated with prescribed medications that kill the mites. Common treatment methods include:

1. Topical Medications: The most commonly prescribed treatment for scabies is a topical cream or lotion that contains permethrin, ivermectin, or lindane. These medications should be applied from the neck down and left on for a specific duration, usually overnight. For severe cases, oral medications like ivermectin may also be prescribed.
2. Antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce itching and allergic reactions caused by the mites.
3. Hydrocortisone Cream: To soothe irritated skin, hydrocortisone cream may be used. However, this is only a temporary relief for the symptoms and does not kill the mites.
4. Treating Contacts and Environment: To prevent reinfestation, it’s essential to treat all close contacts, even if they don’t show symptoms. Washing bedding, clothing, and other personal items in hot water and drying them on high heat can also help eliminate mites in the environment.
5. Isolation and Prevention: It may be necessary to avoid close contact with others until treatment is completed to prevent spreading the mites further.

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Preventing Scabies

Preventing scabies involves avoiding direct contact with infected individuals and their belongings. Here are some prevention tips:

• Avoid prolonged skin contact with infected individuals.
• Do not share clothing, bedding, or towels with someone who has scabies.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially if you’re in a high-risk environment.
• Clean and disinfect your living area if a household member is infected.

Since scabies is highly contagious, it’s essential to take preventive steps, especially if someone in your household or workplace has scabies.

Conclusion

Scabies may be an uncomfortable and frustrating condition, but it’s manageable and treatable with proper care. Understanding how scabies spreads, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking timely treatment can help you avoid prolonged discomfort and prevent transmission to others. Always consult a healthcare provider if you suspect you have scabies, as prompt treatment is essential to avoid complications.