Scabies Rash
Immature mites living on the skin are probably the stage of the parasite that is most easily transferred from person to person. Close contact is required, and scabies is well known for its tendency to spread in crowded conditions such as prisons, army barracks, and overcrowded housing. This association has led many people to believe that people afflicted with scabies are dirty or otherwise socially undesirable. This is incorrect: anyone can catch scabies.
Other species of mites that are visually indistinguishable from Sarcoptes scabiei infect various species of animals, causing mange. They typically infest hairless areas on animals and the lesions often become infected with bacteria. Though these mites will readily transfer to human skin and cause symptoms of scabies, they do not tend to cause ongoing infection when they are not on their preferred host.
Here are some other interesting facts about scabies mites:
Immature mites living on the skin are probably the stage of the parasite that is most easily transferred from person to person. Close contact is required, and scabies is well known for its tendency to spread in crowded conditions such as prisons, army barracks, and overcrowded housing. This association has led many people to believe that people afflicted with scabies are dirty or otherwise socially undesirable. This is incorrect: anyone can catch scabies.
Other species of mites that are visually indistinguishable from Sarcoptes scabiei infect various species of animals, causing mange. They typically infest hairless areas on animals and the lesions often become infected with bacteria. Though these mites will readily transfer to human skin and cause symptoms of scabies, they do not tend to cause ongoing infection when they are not on their preferred host.
Here are some other interesting facts about scabies mites:
- Larvae and eggs are microscopic but the mature females are large enough to be just barely visible at the end of their shallow tunnel. A common way to diagnose scabies is to put a drop of mineral oil on a lesion and then scrape the skin with the edge of a sharp blade. If the scraping is vigorous enough, the specimen obtained will contain eggs, fecal pellets, and the female mite.
- In a few individuals Sarcoptes scabiei mites multiply to huge numbers causing a highly contagious condition called crusted or Norwegian scabies.
- Scabies mites have no respiratory system—they breathe through the skin.
- Mites are not insects but arachnids, related to spiders and scorpions.
Article source: insects.suite101.com
Scabies Rash
1 comment:
Great post. As you point out, a scabies sufferer shouldn't be embarrassed. Anyone can contract a case of scabies if they are exposed to someone who is suffereing from it. One thing that anyone who has scabies should consider is using a natural scabies cure instead of conventional treatments as many conventional scabies medicines are pesticide based. Natural scabies home remedies are just as effective but much less dangerous.
Anyway, keep up the great work!
- Theresa
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