Main article: Sarcoptes scabiei
Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis (dog scabies mite)Scabies is highly contagious and can be spread by scratching, picking up the mites under the fingernails and simply touching another person's skin. They can also be spread onto other objects like keyboards, toilets, clothing, towels, bedding, furniture, and anything else that the mite may be rubbed off onto, especially if a person is heavily infested. The parasite can survive up to 14 days away from a host, but often do not survive longer than two or three days away from human skin.[3] Scabies is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, variety hominis, as shown by the Italian biologist Diacinto Cestoni in the 18th century. It produces intense, itchy skin rashes when the impregnated female tunnels into the stratum corneum of the skin and deposits eggs in the burrow. The larvae, which hatch in 3?10 days, move about on the skin, molt into a "nymphal" stage, and then mature into adult mites. The adult mites live 3?4 weeks in the host's skin.
The action of the mites moving within the skin and on the skin itself produces an intense itch which may resemble an allergic reaction in appearance. The presence of the eggs produces a massive allergic response which, in turn, produces more itching.
Scabies can be transmitted readily throughout an entire household, by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person (e.g. bed partners, schoolmates, daycare). It can be spread by clothing, bedding, or towels. Washing clothing in very hot water and dry on high heat will help prevent the transmission. Alternatively, permethrin sprays can be used for items that cannot be laundered.
The symptoms of itching and rash are caused by an allergic reaction that the human body develops over time to the mites and their by-products under the skin. As such, there is usually a 2-6 week incubation period between infestation and presentation of symptoms. However, in individuals with prior exposure to scabies, the incubation period is much shorter: as little as 1?4 days.[4]
There are usually relatively few mites on a normal, healthy person (who is infested with scabies) ? about 11 females in burrows. Scabies are microscopic although sometimes they are visible as a pinpoint of white. The females burrow into the skin and lay eggs there. Males roam on top of the skin, although can also occasionally burrow.
Benzoyl benzoate or ascabiol; lotion is brilliant. My mum caught it in a nursing home. You can normally see the mites tracvks in the finger webs...but it is intensly itchy.
The other treatment is lyclear cream or permethrin cream..