How to treat scabies
The disease is caused by parasites (mites) that penetrate the skin, causing itching and inflammation of the skin, which looks like a pimple or a mosquito bite. Infection with scabies mites occurs only through person-to-person contact through household means. Pets do not transmit this parasite to humans. If you are looking for how to cure scabies in one day, then be prepared that the therapy will take at least 2-4 days. After the first day of using the products, it will become much easier, the itching will begin to go away, but you will be able to completely get rid of the disease no earlier than after 3 days.
The disease does not go away on its own, the symptoms may subside for a while, but over time they will reappear and complications may begin. The main condition for recovery is the destruction of itching, eggs laid under the skin. The following types of drugs are used for treatment:
- sulfur based;
- folk remedies from herbs;
- pills;
- ointments, gels for topical use;
- sprays (aerosols) against parasites.
Medicine for children
The likelihood of parasites penetrating the skin in a child is the same as in adults. The disease occurs with the same symptoms, so the methods of treating scabies are the same. All medications are aimed at removing itches and destroying their eggs. The pharmacological market offers several types of drugs that must be prescribed by a doctor. Typically, to treat scabies, one of the following medications will be prescribed:
- Spregal. An effective drug in the form of an aerosol. The main disadvantage is the relatively high cost; the contents are enough for 3-4 applications (depending on the area being treated).
- Benzyl benzoate (10%). Pharmacological form - ointment or emulsion. The product is low cost, highly effective, does not leave marks on clothes and is well absorbed into the skin. As a rule, two procedures are enough to cope with scabies.
- Permethrin. Another drug that can be in the form of an ointment or emulsion. Well suited for treating the groin area and head. To eliminate itching, 2 applications are enough. Before applying, be sure to wash and follow the rules written in the instructions.
- Sulfuric ointment. An inexpensive and accessible medicine that is rubbed into the skin for a week. Now this drug is rarely used, because it has a number of significant disadvantages: greasy consistency, unpleasant odor, stains clothes, and is poorly absorbed.
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For adults
The method of infection, symptoms, development of the disease in adults - all this coincides with the course of the disease in children. The method for treating scabies is completely identical to that described above. The only difference is in the area affected: an adult, as a rule, has to use much more medication to treat the entire body. It should be remembered that all family members and people with whom you have been in contact should undergo preventive treatment. Bed linen and clothes must be washed in very hot water (it is better to boil). The mattress should be dry cleaned.
Risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases
It is worth emphasizing that skin diseases that are sexually transmitted (scabies, lice pubis, molluscum contagiosum) act as markers of other sexually transmitted diseases. In this regard, if a person who is sexually active is diagnosed with scabies, molluscum contagiosum or lice pubis, it is necessary to be examined for the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, since there is a risk of infection with them.
How to get rid of scabies with medication
To immediately find a way to quickly cure scabies, you should consult a doctor. He can select the optimal treatment that will give the best result in the shortest possible time. Therapy is carried out at home independently. There are several groups of drugs on the market that are needed to treat scabies. You may be prescribed:
- pills;
- spray;
- ointment;
- recommend folk remedies.
Benzyl benzoate emulsion
Children are prescribed 10%, and adults 20% of the medication. This is a suspension that looks like milk, is easily applied to the skin and is quickly absorbed, and has no odor. To eliminate itching, 1 reconciliation is enough, and to destroy parasites – 2. After the first treatment and two days later, the patient needs to completely change the bed linen. Mode of application:
- You must swim before applying;
- on the 1st day of treatment, 100 g is applied to areas of inflammation;
- on the 4th procedure is repeated;
- There is no need to carry out the procedure on the 2nd or 3rd day.
Ointments
Another form of medication to treat scabies is ointments. The most commonly prescribed drug is Permethrin, which can also be produced in the form of a lotion, spray or cream. This option is slightly more expensive than the one described above; a 5% cream is prescribed. Before purchasing, be sure to read the instructions in the medication insert, because there are creams with permethrin that are available for the treatment of lice pubis. For therapy, 2 skin treatments are enough.
Wilkinson's ointment has proven itself well - a combined remedy for topical use with antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic effects. Per 100 g of product there are:
- 15 g tar;
- 15 g of purified sulfur;
- 30 g naftalan ointment.
It is not recommended to use the medication for acute eczema, chronic renal failure, or hypersensitivity to ingredients. The method of use is as follows:
- Once a day you need to rub the ointment into the affected areas of the skin.
- Do not use on the face or scalp.
- Use for 3 days.
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Pills
In addition to local external therapy, there are ways to treat scabies with tablets. Doctors usually recommend the drug Ivermectin. These are antiparasitic tablets, they are sold only in America and European countries. You can order them delivered if you buy them from an online pharmacy. You need to take two doses of tablets a week apart. After therapy, it is necessary to undergo a re-examination. The drug has a number of contraindications:
- cannot be used during pregnancy planning or childbearing;
- Avoid using Ivermectin if you are allergic to any of the components of the product;
- not recommended if you have asthma or a weakened immune system;
- for other parasitic diseases.
Using a spray
Another option for treating scabies at home is Spregal aerosol. A popular and effective medication option for external use. One can of the product is enough to treat a patient and carry out prevention for all family members. The application method is as follows:
- First you need to wash yourself well.
- Immediately after bathing, apply the spray to the entire affected skin surface. Hold the sprayer at a distance of 20 cm from the surface of the body.
- There is no need to rinse off; re-bathing should be done no earlier than after 12 hours.
- Be sure to change and sanitize bed linen and clothing.
Symptoms of scabies mites
The main symptom of a scabies mite is itching and scratch marks.
There is increased itching in the evening and at night. Itching does not occur due to the direct action of mites, but as a result of an allergic reaction to mites and their excrement. In this regard, when infected with scabies for the first time, the appearance of itching is noted after a few weeks. In case of re-infection with scabies - on the first day. Rashes most often occur on the interdigital spaces, wrists, body of the penis, elbow fossae, feet, external genitalia, buttocks, and armpits. Scabies does not affect the head and neck, with the exception of sick infants. Despite the fact that the rash has a characteristic localization, with this disease itching can occur on any part of the body.
How to cure scabies at home using folk remedies
Among the options for how to treat scabies, doctors allow the use of folk recipes. Their effectiveness is not always confirmed, but they are often used in preventive measures. Many people find it easier to buy a ready-made product at a pharmacy at an affordable price than to prepare an ointment or cream themselves. However, homemade recipes always include only natural ingredients, which captivates many. These options should only be used in consultation with your doctor.
Tar soap
The main component of the soap has a pungent odor that repels ticks and prevents them from re-entering the skin. Soap has a clear antiparasitic effect, so this is another option for treating scabies. Its price is low and easy to find. You just need to completely lather your entire body while taking a shower and do not wash it off for 1-2 hours, then take a shower again. Not everyone likes this option, because the smell is very specific and many people don’t like it.
Herbal medicine
Traditionally, folk recipes use plant infusions and various herbs. If signs of scabies begin to appear, then you can treat it using the following options:
- Buckthorn decoction. It is added while taking a bath, you need to stay in the water for at least 20 minutes, maintain the temperature at 37 degrees Celsius, this will help open the pores and allow the mites to come out. To prepare, you need to add 100 g of buckthorn bark to 2 liters of water. Boil the liquid for 15 minutes, let it brew for 3 hours. Strain the broth and add to the bath, which is recommended to be taken 8-9 times a day.
- Collect yellow tansy flowers, grind them into a pulp and rub on the affected areas. In the first stages of the disease, 2-3 procedures are enough to effectively treat scabies.
- Rue flowers are pale yellow in color and have a strong odor and anti-inflammatory effect. Add 1 tbsp to 500 ml of boiling water. l. herbs. Boil and remove from heat. Let the broth cool, strain it and lubricate the entire body before going to bed. Continue the procedure until the symptoms disappear.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis of scabies is based on examination and laboratory tests.
To take material for analysis, a scraping is taken from the site of the patient's skin injury. To prevent further spread of the mite, it is necessary to apply glycerin to the skin before taking a scraping. The sample taken is placed on a glass slide, covered with a glass slide, and sent for microscopic examination. When studying the material at high magnification, you can find tick excrement, eggs or adults.
Diagnostic criteria for scabies:
- The presence of symptoms - characteristic rashes, night itching.
- Epidemic situation. Those in contact with the patient are examined for symptoms of scabies.
- Conducting laboratory tests.
It is necessary to differentiate scabies from other dermatoses that cause itching - microbial eczema, nodular prurigo, etc. With these diseases, as a rule, the intensity of itching increases during the day, while patients with scabies are bothered by itching at night.
Diagnosis of grain scabies is complicated by the fact that the mite is not detected when examining the contents of the rash elements. Therefore, in the diagnostic process, an important role is played by collecting anamnesis and confirming the fact of contact with grain, straw or similar products that may be infected with mites.
It is important to distinguish the manifestation of straw scabies from urticaria, erythema multiforme, and phlebomoderma.
Price of treatments for scabies
As a rule, it does not take long to treat scabies, so the cost of therapy is relatively low. However, the price of drugs differs significantly, so a person chooses an option that would combine high efficiency and reasonable cost. Below is the estimated price of popular medications for the treatment of scabies:
- Spregal, bottle 152 g – price from 820 rubles;
- tar soap, 90 g – from 40 rubles;
- Benzyl benzoate, ointment 20% 25 g – price from 18 rubles;
- Permethrin, 100 ml – from 105 rub.;
- sulfur ointment, 25 g – from 40 rub.
Sulfur
Sulfur ointment is no longer used to combat scabies, although it has an antiseptic effect.
It is a thick, homogeneous mass of a yellowish-green hue. In addition to sulfur, the composition includes petroleum jelly and petrolatum oil. The substance forms sulfides and pentathionic acid after interaction with organic compounds.
The drug is not absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, so cases of overdose with local application have not been recorded.
Sulfur-tar ointment, in addition to its antiparasitic effect, has anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and keratoplasty properties. Having a detrimental effect on the life activity of the scabies mite, it accelerates the regeneration of skin tissue and exfoliates dead scales of the epidermis.
Sulfur-salicylic ointment softens the upper layers of the epithelium well due to its acid content. Characterized by antiparasitic and antimicrobial effects.
Incubation period
Scabies, the first symptoms of which will be described in detail below, does not always immediately give obvious signs of infection. In different cases, the incubation period will last from several hours to several days (weeks), as it is determined by the age of the individual that came into contact with the skin.
If tick larvae come into contact with the skin, the incubation period will be 12-14 days. The larva penetrates the hair follicle and remains there until it matures. After this, the tick crawls out and bites into the skin, making tunnels in it.
When infected by an adult specimen, the incubation period lasts several hours. Ticks immediately penetrate the upper layers of the skin, beginning to gnaw passages and multiply, which provokes itching.
Prevention measures
If scabies is detected in one person, the rest of the family members who have been in contact with him are required to undergo preventive therapy. The patient's clothing should be disinfected. To do this, things are boiled using washing powder and ironed. Children's toys that the child played with should be placed in a sealed bag for a week. After this period, the ticks will die and the toy will become completely safe.
Based on how scabies is transmitted, in order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene, as well as avoid questionable contacts. We should never forget that this infection is very easily transmitted.
