Scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei, photomicrograph
Scabies is a common and highly contagious skin condition caused by human scabies mites, which are microscopic, eight-legged creatures with round bodies that have infested humans and caused misery for around 2,500 years. It is spread by close physical contact, especially in overcrowded living conditions or during sexual contact, and occurs when the female mite burrows into the outer layer of skin to lay its eggs. When the larvae then hatch and grow into mites, the skin produces an allergic reaction and intense itching develops (usually 2-6 weeks after infestation), resulting in a rash of raised, pinkish-red spots that appear on the body and limbs. Scabies can affect people of any age but is most common in children and young adults. The superficial burrows of scabies usually occur in the area of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, back, buttocks, and external genitals. Except in infants and the immunosuppressed, infection generally does not occur in the skin of the face or scalp. The burrows are created by excavation of the adult mite in the epidermis. In most people, the trails of the burrowing mites are linear or s-shaped tracks in the skin often accompanied by rows of small, pimple-like mosquito or insect bites. These signs are often found in crevices of the body, such as on the webs of fingers and toes, around the genital area, and under the breasts of women. Symptoms typically appear two to six weeks after infestation for individuals never before exposed to scabies. For those having been previously exposed, the symptoms can appear within several days after infestation. However, it is not unknown for symptoms to appear after several months or years. Acropustulosis, or blisters and pustules on the palms and soles of the feet, are characteristic symptoms of scabies in infants
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Photo credit: © Scenics & Science / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: allergic, infection, itch, itchy, mange, mite, parasite, photomicrograph, rash, sarcoptes, sarcoptic, scabiei, scabies, scratch, skin, year
