Scabies is a common contagious infestation affecting over one million people each year in the US with over 130 million cases globally. No one is immune, the likelihood of different age groups contracting scabies are fairly consistent with people contracting the scabies mites from 3 years of age up 60 plus years. The intense itchiness is felt more by children and the older generation.
A common misconception is that scabies is an infection, this is not the case, scabies is an infestation. Yes it does present as a skin rash and this is the reason we think that it is an infection or possibly an allergic reaction to something (or someone) that we have come in contact with. An infestation of the Scabies Mites. It can take a few weeks for the symptoms to appear, unfortunately, a person can spread scabies during this period. The constant is the intense itchiness, especially at night, of a pimple like rash, that may develop into sores from constant scratching of the rash.
For greater detail and a more in depth description and the lifecycle of the Sarcoptes Scabiei (Scabies) see this article
Scabies (also known as the human itch mite) is transmitted by human contact, such as handshakes or hugs. This is another reason why it is spread so quickly in family surroundings.
Misdiagnosis, can be made by untrained people especially in the early stages when it can be mistaken for acne or mosquito bites.
The fertilized female scabies mites burrow under the surface of the skin creating a tunnel, in which the female lays 2 – 3 eggs each day, laying up to 30 over the next few days, then dies in the tunnel. There can be up to 15 to 20 female scabies mites on a person.
Scabies can exist for several days without being in contact with a person, on clothes that an infected person has been wearing or has come into contact with such as blankets or throws.
Anybody can contract Scabies mites even if you are clean and tidy, you simply come into contact with someone who has the human itch mite and the mites are passed on, generally by skin on skin touching (handshake or hugging).
Here is an informative and factual video, a GP discusses Scabies infestations. Click this link https://www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/scabiesexpert.aspx to view the video. The information in the video is provided by the United Kingdom Department of Health, NHS Choices website
