Scabies is a skin disease caused by mites called “sarcoptes scabiei.” Although it is a contagious disease and can be confused with allergies or insect bites due to the itching and skin rashes it causes in the early stages, the symptoms caused by scabies mites can be distinguished by your doctor, allowing for an accurate diagnosis in a short time.
Can Spread in Minutes
The most common symptom of scabies is very intense nighttime itching. The itching becomes more severe when the individual warms up in bed and can reach levels that may wake the patient from sleep. In patients experiencing scabies for the first time, symptoms begin to appear within 2-6 weeks. However, if the patient has had scabies before, symptoms may appear within the first 1-4 days. The disease is contagious even in the period before symptoms appear. Everyone living in the same house with the scabies patient should be treated. Since the disease can spread through close contact within minutes and does not immediately show symptoms, household members should be included in the treatment program regardless of whether they show symptoms. The floors and furniture in the household should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and all textile products the household comes into contact with should be washed at 60 degrees Celsius and ironed. Items that cannot be washed should be kept in a sealed bag for at least three days.
Itching May Continue Even If Scabies Heals
Scabies is a disease that can be easily treated under medical supervision. Scabies treatment is usually applied with lotions and pills aimed at both killing the scabies mites and relieving scabies symptoms. The treatment enables you to get rid of scabies mites in a short time; however, due to the allergic symptoms caused by the mites, the itching may continue for 2-4 weeks. The medications recommended by your physician should be used for the recommended duration and dosage, and household members must be included in the treatment program.
The Spread Rate of Scabies and Risky Areas
Scabies is a parasitic infection that can spread quite easily and quickly. Mites called “Sarcoptes scabiei” can be transmitted from person to person within minutes through skin contact. Sharing the same bed with an infected individual, using their clothes or towels, and sharing frequently contacted items significantly increase the risk of transmission.
The risk of an outbreak is much higher in communal living areas (dormitories, nursing homes, daycares, military quarters, prisons). In these environments, the duration of contact is longer, and the personal space allocated per individual is less. To prevent outbreaks, hygiene conditions in such environments should be reviewed, and immediate precautions should be taken in suspected cases.
The disease can affect not only the individual but everyone around them. Therefore, those living in the same house as the infected person should be included in the treatment even if they do not have symptoms. Treating only individuals with complaints is insufficient as scabies symptoms may appear with a delay. To effectively break the rapid transmission chain, those in contact must be treated simultaneously.
The Most Effective Treatment Methods for Scabies
The treatment for scabies should aim both to eliminate the parasite and to alleviate the symptoms. Creams containing permethrin are the most commonly used treatment. This medication targets the parasite's nervous system and effectively eliminates it. It should be applied from the neck down and washed off after 8–12 hours.
In advanced cases or instances where resistance to treatment develops, oral ivermectin tablets can be used. This medication is very potent against the parasite and is an effective option, particularly in crowded households or among individuals with suppressed immune systems.
Itching usually persists for 2–4 weeks after treatment. In this situation, antihistamine medications or corticosteroid creams can be used to control the itching. However, stopping the treatment prematurely, thinking that the itching has subsided, can cause the disease to recur. Treatment should be continued for the duration recommended by the doctor without any omissions.
A single treatment session may not always be sufficient. In some patients, a second application may be repeated 7 days later. Therefore, follow-up examinations and medical supervision should not be neglected.
How to Conduct Home Cleaning in Scabies Treatment?
Scabies treatment is not limited to medication use alone. Another element as important as medication is the hygiene of the home. Although scabies parasites can only survive for a short time outside the skin, they can live on certain items for 2–3 days. Therefore, cleaning protocols are highly important.
All clothes, sheets, towels, and blankets should be washed at a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius and ironed. Items that cannot be washed should be placed in tightly sealed bags and left for at least 72 hours. This method ensures the parasites die without air.
Frequently contacted surfaces such as sofas, beds, and carpets should be thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner's container or bag should be emptied and disinfected after each use.
Just as starting treatment for all household members simultaneously helps prevent the recurrence of the disease, simultaneously cleaning the home also helps. If these measures are not taken, it is inevitable that recovered individuals will become reinfected.
Precautions to Be Taken to Prevent the Recurrence of Scabies
After the completion of scabies treatment, certain measures should be taken to prevent recurrence of the disease. The most crucial issue is that all individuals in contact should be treated simultaneously. Residents of the household should receive treatment even if they do not display symptoms. Otherwise, the parasite will continue to circulate within the household.
Attention should be paid to personal hygiene rules. Personal items like towels, underwear, and clothes should not be shared with anyone. Towels used in public spaces, especially in gyms, dormitories, and hotels, should be carefully chosen, and personal items should be preferred whenever possible.
Strengthening the immune system is also effective in preventing the recurrence of the disease. Sleep patterns, balanced nutrition, and stress control are key to supporting immunity. In some individuals, the parasite can become active again as soon as the immune system weakens.
Additionally, if there is a high risk of scabies recurrence, control treatments post-treatment can be applied with doctor recommendations. If needed, a second application can completely control the disease. As awareness in the community increases, control of scabies on both an individual and societal level becomes easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is Scabies Diagnosed?
Scabies is usually diagnosed through a dermatological examination. The presence of rashes, bumps, and itching in typical locations on the skin (between fingers, inside wrists, waistline, underarms, buttocks, and genital area) supports the diagnosis.
A specialist may take a skin scraping and examine it under a microscope to check for the parasite and its eggs. However, this test may not always be positive. Clinical findings and the patient's complaints are usually sufficient for diagnosis.
Recently, during frequent outbreaks, evaluating family members together has gained importance since scabies spreads easily through close contact, necessitating simultaneous diagnosis and treatment.
How Can We Recognize Scabies Symptoms?
Correctly recognizing the symptoms of scabies is critical for early diagnosis and preventing transmission. The most common symptom is itching that worsens at night. This itch particularly disrupts sleep quality and reduces the patient's quality of life.
Red rashes, blisters, or tunnel-like marks can be seen on the skin, especially between fingers, inside wrists, waist, buttocks, and underarms.
In some patients, wounds and crusting due to scratching may lead to secondary infections. Especially in children, indirect symptoms such as restlessness and insomnia may be observed.
After scabies symptoms begin, it should be assessed if similar complaints are present in the surrounding individuals. This information can be guiding in making a diagnosis during outbreaks.
What Are the Symptoms of Scabies?
Scabies symptoms can vary based on the stage of the disease, the person's immune system, and skin structure. Generally:
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Severe itching that worsens at night
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Red, bumpy, and crusted rashes
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Fine lines on the skin (scabies tunnels)
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Wounds and crusts caused by scratching
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Initial lesions on hand wrists and between fingers
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Concentration on elbows, under the breast, buttocks, and ankles
In some immune-compromised individuals, classic rashes may not be observed. Therefore, a doctor's supervision should not be neglected.
What Causes Scabies?
Scabies is caused by the mite called Sarcoptes scabiei (a parasitic organism) lodging itself in the upper layer of the skin. This parasite moves forward by opening tunnels under the skin and laying its eggs. The body's immune system develops a reaction to this invasion, leading to intense itching.
The question of why scabies occurs is not limited to parasite transmission alone. The following increase the risk:
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Close physical contact (especially living in the same house)
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Sharing clothes, beds, and towels
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Living in crowded environments with poor hygiene conditions
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Having a weak immune system
It can also spread rapidly in environments like public transport, schools, and dormitories. Therefore, it is extremely important to take protective measures.
How Do You Cure Scabies?
Scabies can be completely controlled when appropriate treatment is applied. However, if treatment is delayed or inadequately applied, it can last longer.
The first choice is usually a topical cream containing permethrin. It is applied to clean, dry skin from the neck down and left on for 8–14 hours before showering.
Oral treatment (ivermectin) may also be necessary for some patients.
The answer to how scabies is treated should also include:
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Washing personal items at high temperatures
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Placing items that cannot be washed in sealed bags for 72 hours
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Simultaneous treatment of everyone living in the same household
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If an infection occurs post-scratching, antibiotic treatment
Itching may continue for 2–3 weeks after treatment. This situation is related to an allergic reaction and can be controlled with antihistamine medications.
Is Scabies Contagious?
Yes, scabies is highly contagious. The primary transmission route is close contact. Especially prolonged skin contact, shaking hands, sharing the same bed, and using the same clothes or towels are risky in terms of transmission.
The question of whether scabies is contagious becomes more critical for communal living areas. Outbreaks are frequently seen in schools, daycares, nursing homes, and military quarters.
Since the parasite can remain alive for a few days outside the body, contaminated items can also be a source of infection. For this reason, it is recommended to disinfect areas contacted by the patient.
During the treatment process, hygienic measures at home should be enhanced, and simultaneous applications should be implemented to prevent further spread.