Scabies

**Scabies** (/ˈskeɪb(i)iːz/, *SKAY-b(ee-)eez*; dem sanso sam times know am as de **seven-year itch**) be a contagious human skin infestation by de tiny (0.2–0.45&nbsp;mm) mite *Sarcoptes scabiei*, variety *hominis*. De word be from Latin: *scabere*, lit. 'to scratch'. E be a particular public health problem insyd crowded settings such as care homes, schools, refugee camps, prisons, den hospitals. De most common symptoms be severe itchiness den a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows fi appear on de skin from eggs wey na be about to hatch. Insyd a first-ever infection, de infected person usually dey develop symptoms within two to six weeks. During a second infection, symptoms fi begin within 24 hours. Dese symptoms fi be present across most of de body anaa just insyd certain areas such as de wrists, between fingers, anaa along de waistline. De head fi be affected, buh dis be typically insyd young kiddies per. De itch often be worse at night. Scratching fi cause skin breakdown den an additional bacterial infection insyd de skin.

Na dem give chaw names to dis condition den de name 'seven year itch' na dem record am insyd chaw documents from de 1800s. Although na de 1952 play *The Seven Year Itch* den modern treatment methods generally change dis name to refer to human relationships, na de condition historically be very difficult to treat.

Scabies be caused by infection plus de female mite *Sarcoptes scabiei *var. *hominis*, an ectoparasite. De mites burrow into de skin to live den deposit eggs. De symptoms of scabies be secof an allergic reaction to de mites. Often, between 10 den 15 mites per be involved insyd an infection. Scabies more times dey spread during a relatively long period of direct skin contact plus an infected person (at least 10 minutes) such as dat wich fi occur during sexual activity anaa living togeda. Spread of de disease fi occur even if na de person no develop symptoms yet. Crowded living conditions, such as those dem find insyd child-care facilities, group homes, den prisons, increase de risk of spread. Areas plus a lack of access to water sanso get higher disease rates. Crusted scabies be a more severe form of de disease, no be essentially different buh an infestation by huge numbers of mites wey typically dey affect those plus a poor immune system per; de number of mites sanso dey make dem much more contagious. Insyd dese cases, de spread of infection fi occur during brief contact anaa by contaminated objects. De mite be tiny den at de limit of detection plus de human eye. E no be readily obvious; factors wey aid insyd detection be good lighting, magnification, den knowing wat to look for. Diagnosis be based either on detecting de mite (confirmed scabies), detecting typical lesions insyd a typical distribution plus typical histological features (clinical scabies), anaa detecting atypical lesions anaa atypical distribution of lesions plus sam histological features per be present (suspected scabies).

Chaw medications be available to treat those infected, wey dey include oral den topical ivermectin, permethrin, crotamiton, den lindane creams. Sexual contacts within de last month den people wey dey live insyd de same house sanso for be treated at de same time. Bedding den clothing dem use insyd de last three days for be washed insyd hot water den dried insyd a hot dryer. As de mite no dey live for more dan three days away from human skin, more washing no dey hia. Symptoms fi continue for two to four weeks dey follow treatment. If after dis time symptoms dey continue, retreatment fi be needed.

Scabies be one of de three most common skin disorders insyd kiddies, along plus ringworm den bacterial skin infections. As of 2015, e dey affect about 204&nbsp;million people (2.8% of de world population). E be equally common insyd both sexes. De young den de old be more commonly affected. E sanso dey occur more commonly insyd de developing world den tropical climates. Oda animals no dey spread human scabies; similar infection insyd oda animals be known as sarcoptic mange, wey e be typically caused by slightly different buh related mites.

## References


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## External links

* American Academy of Dermatology pamphlet on Scabies
* Scabies FAQ from the National Pediculosis Association