Scabies Causes

Scabies causes and risk factors

        The parasite is a mite of the Sarcoptidae family . The main risk factor is promiscuous (kindergartens, schools, family epidemics). The parasite is purely inter-human transsmited by direct skin contact (sharing of bedding, clothing or during sex). It should be noted that scabies is a highly contagious disease: a single contact can be infectious. Scabies is caused by mites (tiny insects) which barely visible without a microscope. The mite is disc-shaped white pearl color, with 4 pairs of brown legs, the adult is less than a millimeter.

        The mites are found behind the knees, inside elbows and wrists and between fingers. It is rare that scabies is fixed to the scalp or palms of hands and soles of the feet. However, young children or people who harbor large numbers of mites may also be affected in these regions. In the elderly, one can also find mites at the hairline, neck, temple and forehead.

Scabies causes pictures

Scabies other causes

        Scabies is a highly contagious condition - if you're in close contact with a person infested with scabies, it is almost certain that you will catch it. Crowded living conditions, close physical contact, like sleeping in the same bed or even hold someone's hand for a moment, enables mites to transmit easily from person to person. Since the mites that cause scabies do not survive more than a few days outside the human body, it is much more likely that the transfer is by direct contact with the parasite than the one with clothing, sheets, or towels. The mites that cause scabies live specifically on the human body: they are not transmissible to animals such as dogs and they are not caught from them, either.

        The female lays her eggs just under the surface of the skin. Hatching occurs within 3 or 4 days later and the larvae reach maturity 17 days later. The presence of mites, eggs, larvae, or adults who seek refuge cause terrible itching. The number of mites that infect varies between 5 and 10, according to the hygiene of the person. There is a severe variant of scabies called Norwegian scabies (crusted scabies). It can occur in people whose immune system is weakened (those suffering from AIDS, for example). Outbreaks also occur in nursing homes and hospitals where thousands of people may be infected.