21 years
I had scabbies, its been a minth since the first time i used the medicine and im still itching. i used the medicine for 3 times, is it normal to still feel itchy?
Aug 24, 2014
Scabies is caused by a mite (like a tiny insect) called Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite is a parasite, meaning it lives off the host (a human) with no benefit to the host.
Most of the symptoms of scabies infestation are due to the immune system response to the mites themselves, their saliva, their eggs or their faeces.
Most cases of scabies are probably caught from prolonged hand-holding with an infected person. The hand is the most common site to be first affected.
The skin-to-skin contact needs to be for a reasonable time to catch the mite. Therefore, you are unlikely to catch scabies from an infected person by casual short contact such as a handshake or a hug. The rate of transmission (spread) is higher the greater the number of mites.
Sometimes outbreaks of scabies occur in places such as nurseries and residential homes, where people are in regular close contact.
SYMPTOMS :
>Mite tunnels (burrows).
>tching.
>Rash .
>Scratching.
>Aggravation of pre-existing skin conditions. Scabies can worsen the symptoms of other skin conditions, particularly itchy skin problems such as eczema, or problems such as psoriasis. Scabies can be more difficult to diagnose in these situations too.
>>>The itch and rash of scabies are due to an allergy (reaction) to the mites (or their saliva, faeces or eggs).
Scabies symptoms usually take 2-6 weeks to occur after you are first infected.
The itch and rash can develop on any part of the skin, away from where the mites are actually burrowing.
This means that you are infectious (and can spread scabies) before you even know you have scabies.
TREATMENT:
>Scabies is curable. The usual scabies treatment is with permethrin 5% dermal cream.
Permethrin is an insecticide that kills the mites. If permethrin cannot be used, an alternative is to use a lotion called malathion 0.5% aqueous liquid. (For example, some people may be allergic to permethrin.)
-Re-apply the same treatment seven days after the first application. This helps to make sure that all the mites are killed.
-You need at least 30 g of cream or 100 ml of lotion to cover the whole body. So, for two applications you will need at least 60 g of cream or 200 ml of lotion per adult.
-Apply cream or lotion to cool dry skin (not after a hot bath).
-The cream or lotion should be left on for the full recommended time. Permethrin cream should be left on for 8-12 hours. Malathion lotion should be left on for 24 hours.
-If you wash your hands or any other part of your body during the treatment period, you should re-apply the cream or lotion to the washed areas.
-Clothes, towels, and bedlinen should be machine washed at 50°C or above after the first application of treatment.
-Some people who develop a secondary skin infection may also need antibiotics. If you suspect this is the case, you should consult a doctor.
NOTE YOU WILL STILL BE ITCHY FOR A WHILE AFTER SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT
It is normal to take up to 2-3 weeks (and sometimes up to six weeks) for the itch to go completely after the mites have been killed by treatment.
Also, even after successful treatment, in a small number of cases there remain some itchy brownish-red lumps (nodules) up to 2 cm in diameter.
If these remain, they most commonly occur on the genitals and armpits. These lumps are neither infectious, nor mean that the mite is still present.
They occur in some cases as a prolonged skin reaction to the scabies mite. If they occur, they usually go within three months, but occasionally last up to one year.
TREATMENT OF ITCHING INCLUDES
-topical treatments that you apply to the skin (such as creams or lotions), or with medication taken by mouth,cold moisturisers (emollients), especially if they contain menthol, can provide temporary relief.
-Avoid applying strong steroid creams, especially if the diagnosis of scabies is uncertain.
FOR ITCHING :
>Crotamiton cream or lotion has soothing qualities and may help to relieve itch. Apply crotamiton 2-3 times a day (but only once a day for children under three years old).
>Hydrocortisone cream. This is a mild steroid cream that may ease any inflammation and help to ease itch. It can be applied once or twice per day, for up to a week.
>An antihistamine medicine you can ask the doctor for a suitable one sometime if itching is preventing sleep an antihistamine such as chlorphenamine is given , This does not ease the itch directly, but can help you to sleep if itching is a problem at night
but before ask the doctor about if it is suitable for you
HOWEVER ,concerning your itch if no other symptoms of scabies other than itching then no problem the itch might take time to finish ,if the itching with other symptoms of scabies then you have not treated the scabies fully and this is a second episode
IN CONCLUSION:
Scabies is caused by an infestation with a parasite - the scabies mite. The mite lives on the skin and burrows into it. Scabies is spread to others through close skin-to-skin contact. It is easily treated with an insecticide lotion applied to the skin. Two applications of treatment are needed, one week apart.concerning itching it is a body reaction toward the mites and it may continue after a successful treatment .
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