Scabies

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

Parasitic infection

Question 2

What does it do?

Answer 2

It burrows under the epidermis and causes an itchy rash

Question 3

Who does it affect?

Answer 3

Most common in children, young adults and the elderly

Question 4

What are predisposing factors? (5)

Answer 4

Poverty, overcrowding, institutional care, refugee camps, immunodeficiency

Question 5

How are they spread?

Answer 5

Skin-to-skin contact or sexual transmission

Question 6

What is the typical course?

Answer 6

Several scabies infect the house and the male dies after mating. The female burrows into the epidermis and lays 3 eggs a day for 1-2months

Question 7

Incubation period?

Answer 7

Yes, 4-6 weeks

Question 8

Signs and Symptoms (6)

Answer 8

Very itchy rash, severe night itching, affects the trunk and limbs but spares the scalp, grey irregular burrow tracks, erythematous papules, urticarial erythema

Question 9

What are the complications? (3)

Answer 9

Secondary bacterial infection, systemic sepsis, Crusted Scabies (patient infected with thousands of mites)

Question 10

What is the treatment? (4)

Answer 10

Sabicide treatment= Permethrin Cream 5%, Oral Ivermectin, 25% Benzyl Benzoate, Crotamiton cream for the itch