Scabies

What is scabies?

Scabies is a skin infection caused by a mite, a parasite called Sarcoptes scarbiei. A special medication prescribed by a doctor relieves the patient's symptoms and kills the mite.

Scabies affects more than 400 million people worldwide. It is more common in tropical countries, but infection can occur in any other country.

Scabies causes severe itching and a rash. The scabies rash spreads slowly, for example, over weeks or months.

Along with the rash, scabies symptoms include:

• Severe itching of the skin, which worsens at night and prevents you from sleeping;

• There is a high risk of scratching due to itching, therefore, ulcers or painful bumps are quite likely to become a source of infection;

• Lines, bumps (a skin rash).

Scabies mites spread from person to person - the route of transmission is direct contact with the skin of an infected person. In very rare cases, it is also possible to spread the infection by sharing towels, clothing, or bed linens with someone who has mites.

Note that pets cannot pass on this infection because the mites that live on their skin cannot survive in humans.

Source:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4567-scabies