How is scabies transmitted? Pathways of disease transmission

Scabies is a contagious dermatological disease characterized by a high level of infection. It gives a person a lot of trouble in the form of rashes, itching, and sometimes pustules. The causative agent of the disease is the itch mite. Most often, scabies develop against the background of a general decrease in immunity. One ill person is able to infect a large number of people in contact with him. Therefore, preventive measures and educational work play an important role. Possessing knowledge of how the scabies are transmitted, a person can protect himself from this unpleasant infection.

Causes

Before you figure out how the scabies are transmitted, you need to know where it comes from in the beginning. As mentioned above, the disease produces a scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). Dimensions of the skin parasite are so tiny that it can be viewed only under a microscope.

When a person gets on the skin of a mange itching begin to impregnate. After that, they make a hole in the epidermis and, moving deeper, they gnaw on scabby passages where they lay eggs. As a rule, one female lays 2-3 eggs per day, from which after 2 days larvae appear, and after a couple of weeks, adults grow up already.

The most active mites show at night. It is at this time that there is a high probability of catching the infection. Viability and reproduction of parasites are possible only on skin integuments. Outside it, mites die after 2-3 days.

Favorite habitats and breeding areas for mites are wrists, palms, feet, male genital organs, as well as the inner part of the elbow bend. The reason for certain localization lies in the fact that these places are practically devoid of hair. The epidermis layer on these sites is large enough. In addition, there are a lot of sweat glands that give off sweat. Thus, a favorable environment for the development of offspring is created.

Not only eggs and larvae are found in scabies. In addition to offspring, females of scabies tick leave their life products here. Being foreign to the human body, such substances eventually provoke the appearance of allergic reactions, which manifest themselves as skin pruritus. Due to the fact that at night the parasites are most active, towards evening the itching intensifies, and at night it becomes simply intolerable.

Varieties

There are different kinds of scabies that differ in appearance, but have the same localization:

• A typical scabies is accompanied by paired rashes, sometimes in combination with crusts and combs. Without timely therapy, this scabies can go into a more serious form, in which a bacterial infection joins.
• Scabies of cleanliness is manifested in the form of unobtrusive single elements of the rash between the fingers of the hands, on the wrists, chest and in the peripodal region. The skin starts to itch in the evening. Outwardly it resembles hives or dermatitis. Most often, the disease affects those who like to wash frequently, thus violating the natural barrier of the skin. Often patients with immunocompromised patients suffer from the disease due to stress or taking antibiotics.
• Nodal scabies is a protracted variant of the disease. Patients in typical areas appear dense red-brown nodules. Due to the density of these nodes, it is difficult for medications to penetrate the skin, which does not allow for rapid and effective treatment.
• Norwegian scabies are considered the most contagious and severe form of all existing. The disease affects people with extremely weakened immunity and sensitive skin. Characterized by a heavy current. Symptoms of scabies of this type - a dry profuse rash with whitish scales, which spreads throughout the body, including in the face, as well as severe itching.
• Pseudosarctotosis (pseudocytosis) is caused by mites that parasitize on animals (dogs, cats, pigs, goats, horses, rabbits). When they get on the skin of a person, such ticks do not form a move and do not lay eggs. This disease, as a rule, does not require treatment and passes by itself. From one person to another it does not pass.

How is itch spread?

The main source of infection, as a rule, is a sick person and all associated contacts. Scabies are transmitted by direct and indirect infection. Also, the disease can be transmitted from the animal. However, such cases are extremely rare.

A direct path involves direct contact with an infected person. How is manic acid transmitted from person to person? The disease can develop even after a normal handshake or massage session. Also, scabies are often transmitted sexually. Often as a result of direct contact, the disease manifests itself in children who spend time together on children's playgrounds.

Indirect infection path is associated with the use of personal items and household items. So, scabies are transmitted through a hand towel, bed linens, dishes, soft toys, sports equipment. To catch an infection it is possible in public places through door handles or hand-rails in transport. However, in recent years, dermatologists are increasingly inclined to the fact that the dominant factor in infection with scabies is still direct contact with the skin of the patient. Therefore, when answering the question about how the scabies are transferred from things, the opinions of specialists differ. The conducted experiments showed that infection through indirect contact does not happen so often. The exception is Norwegian scabies, when the number of mites on the body can reach several million.

The probability of infection with scabies from animals is very controversial. The thing is that human and animal scabies are different types of diseases, although they have a similar symptomatology. Ticks of animal origin, getting on the skin of a person, can live on it for a while and even have time to inflict bites. However, animal parasites do not survive on human epidermis because it is not suitable for feeding such ticks. In other words, this kind of scabies can pass from pets, but does not take root long. Scabies from a cat are transmitted to a person only in the case when the pet's fur plays the role of a tick carrier, that is, if an infected person has stroked it before.

And what about the return transfer? The answer to the question of whether mange is transmitted from person to animal is similar: dogs, cats and other animals are not capable of suffering from human scabies. Such ticks on their body do not live.

Symptomatic of the disease

The main symptom of scabies is the appearance of itching. It occurs a month after infection. Itching is a response allergic reaction to the invasion of the parasite. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it manifests most of all in the evening and at night, that is, during the hours of active tick action.

The next symptom of infection is the formation of itch moves, which the female does. In appearance they resemble a thin, swollen band about a centimeter in length. The most common habitats of the itch parasite are palms, wrists, folds of the elbow, interdigital spaces, stops and inguinal region.

In addition, scabies are accompanied by the appearance on the skin integuments, crusty bubbles and dry cracks. All these manifestations arise from the reaction of the organism and the vital activity of the parasite.

Diagnostics

The best scabies are determined by microscopic examination.

Iodine is often used to detect strokes, which is applied to the affected areas. As a result of such manipulations, itching strokes are colored in a more intense color, which indicates the parasite's skin damage.

Also, the technique of thin sections is used, when a layer of epidermis is cut off with a scalpel or eye scissors, which is subsequently poured for 5-8 minutes with an alkaline solution, and then examined under a microscope. Thanks to this method, it is possible to detect not only ticks, but also eggs with larvae.

Treatment

After it was possible to diagnose scabies, it is necessary to start treatment. It is important to understand that this disease never passes by itself. It can last for years, periodically stopping bothering. However, sooner or later the symptoms will again be felt.

In order to get rid of this scourge, it is enough to destroy the pathogen and the laid eggs. To this end, apply local therapy. As a rule, as a treatment, dermatologists recommend using medicines. Among them, most often used sulfuric ointment, an emulsion of benzyl benzoate, "Spregal", "Lindan", "Permethrin", "Krotamin" and "Ivermectin."

Of folk remedies, laurel leaf, birch tar, leaves and green walnut fruits, pounded sulfur, and turpentine are well established.

Rules for effective treatment

• Before starting therapy, the patient should be thoroughly cleaned, dry thoroughly, and then start using the drugs.

• It is mandatory to change clothes and bed linen, towels and towels.

• Persons who have had contact with a person infected with scabies for the prevention should be treated with the patient.

• Used bedding and bedding should be boiled and ironed.

• Anti-scratch drugs should be applied to the entire body, except the head and neck.

• Treatment of skin is carried out in the evening, before going to bed. After the procedure, washing hands is not allowed.

How to stop the spread of scabies

The lifespan of an itch mite outside the human body depends on the temperature of the environment. In conditions of high humidity, the parasite lives for more than 2 weeks. In a dry climate and at a temperature of about 20 ° C, it dies after 5 days, at 90 ° C - after half an hour, and when boiled - almost instantly. Also, the mite is afraid of frost, which destroys it in a few hours. All this is important to consider when processing contaminated linen, clothing and household items.

Preventive measures

If you find scabies in one person, the rest of the family who have been in contact with him must undergo preventive therapy. The clothes of the patient should be disinfected. For this, things are boiled using a detergent and ironed. Children's toys with which the child played, it is necessary to put in a sealed package for a week. At the end of this period, the mites will die and the toy will be completely safe.

Proceeding from the way the scabies are transmitted, in order to prevent the disease it is necessary to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene, and also to avoid questionable contacts. Never forget that this infection is very easily transmitted.