Introduction
Scabies (medical term: scabies, acarodermatitis) is a skin disease caused by certain parasites (scabies mites). It is a highly contagious disease, which often occurs in places with poor hygiene and many people. An infection is often conspicuous by severe itching, which occurs mainly at night. Skin changes are another indication of an infection with the mites. Treatment can be carried out with specific medication and meticulous hygiene and is usually successful.
Causes of dross
The clinical picture of scabies is caused by so-called scabies mites. These parasites bore through the skin, form ducts and lay their eggs under the skin. The excretions of the mites are responsible for the typical itchy skin rashes in scabies.
Especially where many people live and sleep in one place, perfect conditions for the spread of the scabies mites are created. Typical are kindergartens and homes for the elderly. A lack of hygiene further increases this effect, which is why the occurrence of scabies is often associated with poor hygienic conditions and a low social status.
However, these risk factors do not necessarily have to be present for every disease. Especially people with a weak immune system often suffer from the symptoms of scabies. Their immune system is no longer able to fend off the parasites.
Symptoms of scabies
The symptoms of scabies are mostly limited to the skin. They appear at the earliest 2 weeks and at the latest within 6 weeks after infection with the mite and severely impair the quality of life of those affected. Although the symptoms can be extremely unpleasant, scabies is not life-threatening.
Is scabies contagious?
Scabies is a contagious disease. Contact with people who carry the parasites causing the disease on and under the skin can lead to infection and thus to the outbreak of scabies. For a long time it was assumed that only prolonged contact with infected persons could lead to transmission and infection.
Today it seems to be proven that even short contact with people suffering from scabies can lead to an outbreak of the disease. The mites can survive for a few days without skin contact with humans. So even contact with clothes or bed linen of infected persons can lead to an infection with the parasites. The first symptoms usually appear between 2 and 6 weeks after infection. After the start of treatment, there is usually no longer any risk of infection for other people after just 12 hours.