Infectious skin rash from mites

Mites are primarily transmitted from person to person, but this usually requires repeated (longer) and/or closer contact between the infected and the non-infected person (e.g. sexual intercourse, breastfeeding, care in nursing homes, closer contact between family members). Shorter contacts, such as a fleeting handshake, are not normally sufficient to cause transmission. Infection through “inanimate objects” such as bedding, clothing, furniture, etc. is also rather rare, as the small mites are only able to survive for a very short time (24-36 hours) outside of the body environment. As a rule, with an intact immune system, the body manages to keep the mite count in check and allow a mild course of the rash, but if people with a lowered immune system are infected, mass reproduction can occur (Scabies norvegica), which among other things leads to the fact that these patients are highly contagious and can more easily cause infection in groups.

Scabies

If, in the context of an infestation by mites, a really classical rash develops, it is usually the so-called scabies, which is caused by a certain subspecies of mites (grave mites), the Sarcoptes scabiei. Although the more widespread skin dust mites, which predominantly trigger the well-known house dust allergy, can also show slight allergic skin reactions as accompanying reactions within the scope of the allergic reaction, a strongly itchy skin rash is more typical for the somewhat less frequently occurring scabies. It is mainly the female scabies mites that penetrate the skin of the affected persons and form small passages under the uppermost layer of skin in which they move around and deposit excrement and eggs for reproduction. The mites are transmitted from person to person, but animals can also be infested by mange mites, although these are often other mite species (mange in animals = scabies; however, an infection from animal to person is also possible!)

Skin rash due to mites on the face

A rash caused by mites preferentially affects those areas of skin that have a warm or warmer environment – for example, it often occurs between the fingers or toes, in the area of the ankles or wrists, in the buttocks or genital area, in the armpit area, the crook of the arm, in the chest area or the area of the navel. The head is usually – in adults – not affected and is left out, but in infants and toddlers it can also occur in this area. Also a subform of the scabies, the Scabies crustosa, with which it comes to intensified crust formation and which is strongly contagious, it can come typically also to an otherwise rather rare infestation of neck, face, back and scalp.