General Information About Scabies
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where a microscopic bug (mite) adapted to live under the skin creates a severe allergic reaction and itching by insidiously advancing (digging tunnels) inside the skin.
The scabies parasite cannot jump or fly, it only crawls. Therefore, it is transmitted through direct, close, and skin-to-skin contact with a sick person lasting at least 15-20 minutes. Sleeping in the same bed, holding hands for a long time, sharing clothes/towels, or using the same bed sheets are the most common transmission routes. The probability of transmission from a quick handshake is low.
After the bug enters the body, it takes time for the body to give an allergic reaction. The onset of complaints (itching) in someone who has scabies for the first time in their life can take 2 to 6 weeks. During this silent incubation period, the patient continues to unknowingly transmit the disease to others.
The most important feature is severe itching that becomes maddening and prevents sleep, especially at night (when it gets warm in bed). Small, pimple-like red bumps on the skin, scars due to scratching, and very thin, S-shaped, grayish/off-white tunnel lines dug by the microscopic bug are seen. It appears most commonly between the fingers, wrists, around the navel, armpits, and genital area. (It is usually not seen on the face and scalp in adults).
The dermatologist diagnoses it easily based on clinical experience and the location of the lesions. To confirm, the parasite under the skin (shaped like a delta wing) is visually seen with an illuminated magnifying glass called a Dermatoscope, or a small piece scraped from the skin is examined under a microscope.
The most critical rule: EVERYONE living in the same house, whether they have complaints or not, MUST start treatment on the same day! Otherwise, it is transmitted back and forth like a 'ping-pong' ball.
Special lotions/mixtures containing Permethrin or Sulfur, applied to the entire body (from the neck down to the tips of the toes), kept on the body for 12-24 hours and then washed off, are used. In resistant cases, oral Ivermectin pills are given.
Cleaning of Belongings: All clothes, bed covers, and towels used within the last 1 week must be washed at at least 60 degrees, or disinfected by placing them in a closed garbage bag and waiting for 7-10 days (the bug dies in 3-4 days without human skin).
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
