There is a skin disease that itches terribly at night, and family members and people living with it can also have similar symptoms. In this case, it's most likely scabies.

1. What is scabies?

Scabies is a contagious disease caused by mite scabies parasitizing human skin. Sarcoptes scabies parasitize the epidermal stratum corneum of the skin, gnawed the keratin, and can dig a crooked tunnel in the skin, where the female scabies will lay eggs.

Scabies tends to occur in the tender and soft parts of the skin, often starting between the fingers and gradually spreading to the flexion side of the upper limbs, the elbow socket, the trunk and the genital parts, but rarely invading the head and face except for infants and young children.

The skin of scabies is characterized by red papules, humps, and vesicles. Scabies nodules may appear in patients with prolonged illness, which are commonly found in the penis, scrotum, lower abdomen, etc. Often accompanied by intense itching, especially at night.

Frail, immunocompromised elderly people are also prone to scabies, and may even develop a more severe Norwegian scabies, which is characterized by dry skin, scab, erythema scaly patches of hyperkeratosis, erosion, pustules, foul odor, dry hair, and thick and twisted nails.

 

2. How is scabies diagnosed?

Scrape the skin of the affected area, such as papules, blisters, and so on, and find scabies or eggs under the microscope can be diagnosed. The "spray trajectory" seen under the dermoscope is conducive to the localization of the insect body, and it is easier to find scabies.

 

3. Is scabies contagious?

Scabies is highly contagious, spread mainly by contact, and the scabies can survive for 2-3 days after leaving the human body.

4. How is scabies treated?

    If suspicious situation, it is recommended to go to the regular hospital dermatology diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. After the diagnosis of scabies, sulfur ointment, clomitone, thiabendazole and other drugs can be selected for treatment, itching obvious can be used anti-allergic drugs symptomatic treatment. According to the doctor's advice, according to the course of medication, is an important link in the treatment of scabies.

 

5. How to prevent scabies?

① Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. Take showers frequently and keep daily necessities clean.

(2) Thoroughly disinfect clothing, bedding and household articles that may be contaminated.

③ For people who have had scabies, they must live apart and not have close contact with others before they are cured.

4. Avoid dirty sex.

Liu Wei, Department of Dermatology, First Hospital of Jilin University

(The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. Some pictures in this article are from the Internet, if there is infringement, please contact to delete)