‘It spreads 30 times faster, it can happen to anyone at any time’ Important warning from the professor! ‘It is transmitted through close contact for 10-15 seconds’

Prof. Dr. Müge Güler Özden gave information about the increase, transmission and treatment of scabies.

Özden said, “Of course, this can be explained by global warming, migration movements or some changes in lifestyle. The epidemic is a very important reality of our country right now. Scabies is a parasite that is transmitted from person to person through close contact. It is a parasite specific to humans. It is out of the question for human scabies to be transmitted from animals, especially in this epidemic. It is an agent that can be transmitted from person to person through close contact of approximately 10-15 seconds, and the risk of transmission increases with body temperature. One of the biggest mistakes made in the treatment of this disease is to try to treat only the patient. It is very important that the entire family is treated at the same time, whether they are sick or not. It is an important detail that scabies parasites that have not yet hatched can lead to the false perception that the patient is healthy. If all family members are not treated, there will be a ping-pong effect. While one patient gets better, another will get sick, and while that patient gets better, the other will get sick. A vicious circle is entered from which it is impossible to escape. That’s why all family members should be treated, whether they are sick or not,” he said.

Özden: “Scabies itching is a very disturbing itch. It is very typical that this itching increases especially with the increase in body temperature. As the body temperature begins to increase, especially after going to bed, the scabies will also activate and the itching will intensify. The locations of involvement are important. Especially where the skin is thinner and warmer.” or chooses places where it can easily lay eggs. The inner surfaces of the hands, around the nipple, genital area, groin and around the belly are the areas we encounter most frequently. While it used to be enough to apply cream once during the treatment process, it was actually a very easily treated agent, but now some resistance has developed. Here, persistently repeating the treatment 6, 7, 8 times, maybe 1 week and 10 days apart, would be of great benefit. There is now a tablet, oral treatment agent made in our country. In cases that do not improve with tropical treatment, it is necessary to support it with oral treatment under the supervision of a doctor. It is very effective. It is necessary to be very careful with the clothes. It is important to wash the clothes at 60-70 degrees, iron them with a hot iron, and use unwashable clothes in an airtight package for about 10 days. It is necessary to pay attention to the seam spacing when ironing hot. “Eggs can remain between the stitches,” he said.

Providing information about his studies, Özden said, “As dermatology experts, we realized that the epidemic in our country had actually started in previous years. We conducted a multi-center study on this subject to provide data to the World Health Organization and our own health authorities. We collected data from all over Turkey. We saw that in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, while the number of cases was very low and at a certain number, an epidemic suddenly started so rapidly that it first increased 7 times and then 30 times after 2017. The pandemic has slowed down the pace of this epidemic somewhat. With the end of the pandemic, the epidemic, which started 30 times faster as people came into contact again, unfortunately continues with its own momentum. It puts us all at risk. “Anyone can get scabies at any time,” he said. (UAV)