What is Scabies
Scabies is a skin infection caused by very small insects or mites called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis is the etiologic agent that causes human scabies.
These mites burrow into the top layer of human skin to lay their eggs. The burrows sometimes appear as short reddish lines on the skin's surface, specially between the fingers. The female insect usually lays 1 - 3 eggs daily and continues laying eggs for about five weeks. The mites are too small to be seen without microscope. They usually do not survive more than 48-72 hours but the female mite have the tendency to live for about a month. Other locations for scabies are on the backs of the hands, on the wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs and around the waist.
Scabies is a catching disorder and can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact e.g., by shaking hands or sleeping together or by close contact with infected articles such as clothing, bedding or towels or through sexual contact with someone else who is infected with it. Scabies in infants and young children tend to be more disseminated. Children younger than 15 years and people with weak immune systems are also at risk for a more severe form of scabies, called Norwegian or crusted scabies.
Scabies generally occurs in the fall and winter months. Scabies is difficult to diagnose but easy to treat. People usually get rid of it before knowing it was scabies.
