Scabies causes severe itching, flaking and skin sores. The cases of scabies, which can be easily transmitted by person-to-person contact, have increased considerably recently. Due to the lack of adequate hygiene and the increase in family contact during the Covid-19 pandemic and the risk of transmission, many diseases occur and the treatment processes of these diseases are disrupted. Due to the effect of Covid-19 on the whole world, scabies cases, which are especially seen in Europe, have become common in our country. Patients are resistant to treatment. Stating that great attention should be paid to the use of drugs and hygiene conditions for the treatment of the disease, and that the whole family should be treated together in the presence of a case, Uz from Memorial Ankara Hospital Dermatology Department. Dr. İbrahim Özcan gave information about scabies and treatment methods.
IT CAN BE TRANSMITTED IN ONLY 20 MINUTES
Sarcoptes scabiei hominis mite, an invisible creature, causes scabies, which manifests itself with severe itching on the skin. Scabies, which does not discriminate between age and gender, can be seen in every society and at every economic level. This disease, which can be severe in people whose immune system is not strong or whose immune system is suppressed, can easily be transmitted from person to person by physical means in a period of 20 minutes.
CAUSES SEVERE ITCHES
Itching, which increases at night and even wakes the patient from night sleep, mainly occurs in the wrists, inner parts of the arms, armpits, between the fingers, around the navel, hips, ankles, nipples in women, and genital area in men. In addition to itching, symptoms may include white-gray tunnel-like structures 1-10 mm long, as well as itch marks, small blisters, and acne-like structures. In children, symptoms may occur more behind the ears, face, palms and soles of the feet.
HIGHER TRANSACTION RATE IN COMMUNICATE ENVIRONMENTS
The rate of transmission of scabies is much higher in environments where hygienic conditions are not provided well enough and where people are generally found in schools, dormitories, nursing homes, military or prisons. Situations where physical contact is high such as sleeping in the same bed, holding hands, using the same towel, wearing the same shoes or slippers, using common clothes, long-term physical contact and sexual intercourse increase the possibility of transmission of the scabies parasite.
THERE ARE PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED 5-6 TIMES AND CANNOT HEAL FULL
Recently, there has been an increase in cases of scabies in our country, as in Europe. During the quarantine period, there is an increase in cases of scabies, especially in crowded families, due to the increase in family contact and people being hesitant to go to the hospital due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission. In addition to the increasing cases of scabies, it has been observed that the resistance of the scabies parasite to treatment has increased recently and there has been a significant increase in the number of patients who have been treated 5-6 times by going to different doctors, but still have not recovered.
It can take 2-6 weeks for the disease to show symptoms.
The diagnosis of scabies, which does not have a specific laboratory test, can be made by the patient’s complaints and physical or dermatoscopic examination. However, the disease can also be determined by examining the sample taken from suspicious areas with a microscope. In the treatment of scabies, mainly creams containing permethrin, sulfuric ointments, lotions containing lindane, creams containing crotamiton and benzyl benzoate lotions are used. Orally taken itching medications also help the treatment. However, even if these drugs used in the treatment kill the scabies mites and their eggs immediately, the itching can unfortunately continue for a while.
In addition to the use of drugs, the patient’s laundry, towels and bedding should be complained of at 60 degrees and ironed with a hot iron. Carpets and furniture should be swept with a vacuum cleaner and then the dust bag should be changed. In addition, people living in the same environment should be treated at the same time as the patient, even if they do not have active complaints. Because it can take 2-6 weeks for the symptoms of scabies, which has a high risk of transmission, to show.
ATTENTION TO THESE SUGGESTIONS TO PROTECT FROM SCALE
- Hygiene is very important in the prevention of scabies. In environments where people are in public, in public transportation vehicles, extreme attention should be paid to cleanliness.
- For personal protection, contact with people suspected of being ill should be avoided.
- Items that have direct contact with the body, such as underwear, towels, bed linen, should not be shared with others.
- The person should pay attention to his personal hygiene.
- Cleaning of common areas such as home and car should be carried out regularly.