Scabies during pregnancy: causes of the disease, how to treat it

Scabies is a parasitic skin disease characterized by itching and the formation of blisters and crusts on the skin. The disease is easily transmitted from person to person through direct contact and with household items. Because During pregnancy, a woman’s body is in an immunosuppressive state, and the likelihood of getting scabies increases. Unfortunately, even preventive measures sometimes do not save. What to do in this case?

Causes of the disease

Scabies is caused by the scabies mite, or scabies mite, which is an oval-shaped parasite with a pale yellow color. Its dimensions are about 0.3-0.5 mm. To move and attach to the human body, it uses suction cups on its front legs. The mite feeds on the keratinized skin cells of the host. To lay eggs, the female breaks holes (vertical and horizontal) in the skin at night, which is what causes severe itching.

The incubation period for the disease is one to two weeks. And during her life (40-50 days), the female lays about 50 eggs. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the disease as soon as possible and prescribe treatment.

Symptoms of scabies on the head

The symptoms of scabies in pregnant women are the same as in the average person. The body’s reaction to a foreign parasite is also present here. Mites form scabies burrows, laying them, at the end of the burrow they lay eggs to reproduce the population. The larvae emerge from the eggs, and the remaining shell decomposes under the skin and the inflammation process leads to an increase in temperature. Itching is caused by the mite gnawing through the skin and releasing its saliva.

There are many types of scabies, each differing in the number of symptoms and their severity. But the main characteristic symptoms are present in almost every type:

The rash appears where the mite was present, in areas where the shells are rotting and the mites have died. Usually redness appears around the scabies. If treatment is neglected, scabies enters a chronic stage and papules - blisters with liquid - begin to form and enlarge.
Itching becomes the main unpleasant symptom, especially for pregnant women. It causes a lot of problems in the evening and at night, since at this time the itching is most active. The itching is especially severe in areas with a high concentration of mites. Insomnia, problems with sleep patterns and other sleep disturbances appear.
A characteristic feature that facilitates diagnosis is passages under the skin. The passages are thin white stripes up to a centimeter long raised above the skin.

There are symptoms that accompany inflammatory processes in the body. If a pregnant woman accidentally damages the skin while scratching, an infection gets to the site of microtrauma and dermatitis develops.

Typically, inflammation is characterized by increased body temperature, mild headache and runny nose. If the runny nose is severe, this indicates an allergy.
High fatigue appears, general health becomes worse, insomnia and sleep disturbances appear.

In women with good immunity, symptoms appear within two weeks. If the health status is lower, then after a maximum of a month all the symptoms will appear. Itching and rash appear almost instantly. The time frame is individual, depending on age, immunity, and body resistance.

In order to find out what scabies looks like in pregnant women and how the symptoms manifest themselves, what are the first signs, look at the photo of the disease.

How can you get sick

A pregnant woman, as a rule, monitors her health very closely. But no one is safe from scabies. Infection occurs when diseased skin comes into contact with healthy skin, a short touch is enough.

Also dangerous are the personal belongings of a sick person: bed linen, clothing, household items.

It is generally accepted that scabies is a disease of dirty, unkempt people. This is not entirely correct. Soap and water alone cannot cure itching. This judgment is based on the fact that more often asocial and homeless people suffer from scabies.

Scabies infection process

Signs of this disease will appear within a week from the moment the tick comes into contact with the skin.

When it hits the surface, it begins to penetrate the skin, continuing to feed and reproduce at a fairly rapid pace.

It is also necessary to understand that such a mite can live outside human skin for up to 15 days if appropriate disinfection and heat treatment have not been carried out for objects touched by an infected person.

Scabies mites can be found in wool, cotton or silk products. House dust also provides favorable conditions for the existence of mites.

Therefore, to take care of your health, important importance is given to wet cleaning and regular ventilation of the room during pregnancy.

Symptoms of the disease

Manifestations of the disease in pregnant women are no different from ordinary scabies.

The process begins with skin itching, which intensifies at night and when warming up.
Then a rash appears on the skin: blisters, nodules, pustules and crusts.
When examining the skin under a magnifying glass, you can see an itch.
Due to itching and burning, scratches form on the skin.
Favorite localization is places of especially thin and delicate skin (interdigital folds, lower abdomen, pubic area, mammary glands, etc.). If the disease is advanced, the parasite can be found on any part of the skin.

Important! If you notice the symptoms listed above, you should immediately consult a doctor.

A dermatovenerologist treats this problem. The doctor conducts consultations in specialized skin and vein dispensaries or private clinics.

Characteristic symptoms and signs of infection

Symptoms of scabies during pregnancy are similar to those reported in non-pregnant women. They are:

Itching that becomes more intense in the evening and at night;
A rash that looks like blisters and is localized between the fingers on the wrists and elbows, on the female breasts, thighs and reproductive organs.

If a pregnant woman suspects she has scabies and its manifestations, she should immediately consult a doctor. The sooner such a diagnosis is made, the sooner therapy will begin. Time is the key factor in this case.

The doctor takes a scraping from the site of skin injury. If you scratch vigorously, it will be difficult to identify scabies and make a diagnosis. Scabies therapy cannot be carried out without prior diagnosis.

How can you treat scabies in pregnant women? This question really depends on when the disease occurred and what the current stage of pregnancy is.

Medicines should be prescribed to pregnant women with extreme caution, since many of them are toxic and can adversely affect the fetus. As a rule, the doctor prescribes the following drugs (they are not capable of harming either the health of the mother or the child’s body):

Spregal in the form of an aerosol. The product should be applied to the skin before bed and left on the surface of the skin for at least twelve hours;
Bensocryl in the form of an ointment. Otherwise it is called Benzyl benzoate. This ointment is available in two forms: ten percent and twenty percent. You need to apply the ointment after a shower, rubbing it into the injured areas of the skin. Rubbing into the head is excluded. The use of ointment is indicated on the first and fourth days of therapy with this drug. On the fifth day, it is necessary to treat underwear, clothing, and personal belongings in order to prevent the recurrence of scabies;
Allergy medications. These are Suprastin, Diazolin, Claritin and other similar drugs;
Sulfuric ointment. This ointment is usually also available in two forms: ten percent and twenty percent. To achieve results, this product must be used for a week; it must be applied at night. Moreover, you need to cover the entire body with ointment, not just the affected areas.

Ointment for scabies during pregnancy is an effective remedy for topical use.

How to treat scabies in pregnant women? Remedies for scabies for pregnant women should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor, and he should also monitor the entire course of treatment with the drug prescribed to him.

The scabies mite is the causative agent of a disease called scabies. Infection can occur quite simply, just by touching the carrier. In the early stages of the disease, it is impossible to determine infection.

The age of the tick determines the incubation period. If a person picks up larvae or young females, the incubation period can be two or three weeks. Due to this, a person can rarely determine who is carrying the tick and when the infection occurred.

Scabies during pregnancy is a rare occurrence, since while expecting a baby, a woman strives to take maximum care of her health and the health of her unborn child and avoids huge crowds of people.

Infection with scabies mites can occur in two ways:

contact person touched the infected person, for example, shook his hand,
In everyday life, people became infected through things, door handles, handrails, and personal hygiene items.

A pregnant woman who comes into contact with a large number of people should adhere to certain preventive measures.

The causes of itching in a pregnant woman are associated with changes that occur in her body:

increase in breast size - changes will be observed in the first trimester and, along with toxicosis, itching begins,
stretching of the skin - itching occurs in the third trimester. The likelihood of its occurrence increases with multiple pregnancies,
liver dysfunction - itching is a sign of cholecystitis, hepatitis and pancreatitis, in this case the pregnant woman experiences itching all over her body,
allergic reaction - itching occurs to food, chemicals,
skin diseases – a woman experiences a deterioration in the condition of her skin during pregnancy,
hormones - estrogens, which are released in large quantities during pregnancy, can cause itching,
itching of the genitals - this phenomenon can occur with thrush.

Symptoms during pregnancy during infection do not differ from symptoms during other periods. The main signs of scabies mite infection are:

itching, which occurs more in the evening and at night,
the appearance of itchy blisters at the site of infection. They mainly occur between the fingers, on the elbow joints, genitals, abdomen,
the appearance of scabies on the skin, which are made by the mite. Externally, they appear as small wavy stripes, the length of which does not exceed one centimeter.

If even one of the symptoms listed above occurs, you must immediately consult a dermatologist in order to avoid serious consequences.

Pregnancy is a rather difficult period for every woman, as she needs to protect herself as much as possible from a variety of diseases. But in rare cases, a pregnant woman can become infected with scabies, so you need to be aware of its symptoms to prevent the disease from progressing. The symptoms of scabies depend mainly on its form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5i3RjRQeJA

The first signs of the disease appear approximately 2 weeks after infection. Typically, small pimples form on the skin on the extremities between the toes. When pressed, clear liquid may flow out. Further, small blisters may appear in the elbows, armpits, breasts, feet and genitals. With further development of the disease, tick passages and small openings become noticeable, thanks to which the tick breathes while under the skin.

The burrows are pale gray projections that can be about 1 cm long. As a result of scabies mite infestation, a woman experiences itching, which undoubtedly causes discomfort. In particular, the itching becomes quite severe at night.

Scratching can be accompanied by a bacterial infection, and pyoderma may develop. Sometimes scabies is complicated by damage to some organs, the appearance of abscesses and boils. It is worth noting that scabies is not dangerous for the fetus, but there is still a risk of infection during childbirth.

When treating scabies in pregnant women, medicinal drugs are called the main treatment drugs. It is very important that the doctor prescribe medications that will not harm the baby or cause a miscarriage. Typically, women are recommended to use the following medications during pregnancy.

There are several forms of scabies, which have certain symptoms:

typical – manifested by itching, rashes and scabies;
without burrows – there are no scabies burrows, since infection with mite larvae has occurred;
scabies of clean people - in people who wash themselves too often, the disease is little noticeable;
pseudoscabies (pseudosarcoptosis) – infection from animals, manifested only by itching and goes away when contact is interrupted;
complicated - in advanced cases, infection, redness, moisture and an unpleasant odor of the skin are added to typical scabies;
Norwegian - in people with Down syndrome, drug addicts, patients with tuberculosis or AIDS, there is no itching, the scabies are located in several levels, the nails are affected.

The rashes usually take the form of papules and blisters on the abdomen, feet, thighs, elbows, wrists, in the interdigital folds, on the mammary glands, and on the genitals. Scabies during pregnancy is often accompanied by other skin diseases: eczema, dermatitis, pyoderma.

The symptoms characteristic of this disease during pregnancy do not differ from the manifestations during normal times.

Severe skin itching, worsening at night;
Noticeable passages under the skin;
Blistering rash between the fingers, on the thighs and elbows, and on the genitals.

If one or more symptoms occur, you should immediately tell your doctor about it and get a referral for examination.

Timely diagnosis of scabies plays a very important role in the success of treatment and reducing the risk of complications for mother and child.

A skin scraping is taken from a woman with symptoms characteristic of this disease. To do this, the thinnest layer of the epidermis is cut off for microscopic examination.

In addition to scraping, a visual inspection is carried out for the presence of passages. A general blood test is prescribed, which, if infection is present, will show an increased level of white blood cells.

Compliance with the necessary preventive measures reduces the likelihood of contracting scabies to almost zero.

The main rule is personal hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, especially after visiting public places.

If it is not possible to wash your hands with running water, you can use special disinfectant gels.

Bed linen must be changed at least once every 2 weeks.

It is important to regularly wet clean your home. Once a week it is recommended to wash dust and floors with disinfectants.

In addition to hygienic preventative measures, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. Eat nutritiously, walk in the fresh air and sleep enough time.

All pregnant women are recommended to take special multivitamin preparations.

If you come into contact with an infected person, you must disinfect your clothing and objects that came into contact with him.

If you notice the first symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

What consequences are possible for a child if the disease is not treated?

Various consequences are possible for the mother, but the disease does not affect the fetus before birth. The usual form of scabies affects only the skin. But it has a negative impact on the mother's well-being. Itching, blisters and nodules bring discomfort and irritate a pregnant woman.

If treatment is delayed, complications may arise: dermatitis and pyoderma. Microorganisms enter through cracks in the skin, causing inflammation. Such pathological processes lead to an increase in temperature, which is already dangerous for the baby.

There are also known cases of an infant contracting scabies from the mother during childbirth. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor in time and start treatment.

Effect on the fetus

During pregnancy, women usually pay a lot of attention to their health. But they are not completely protected from the risk of getting such an unpleasant disease. At the same time, this is a serious problem for the unborn baby and his mother, since not every treatment for scabies during pregnancy is acceptable. Moreover, if the disease is not immediately recognized and the necessary measures are not taken in time, complications can occur.

Scabies is a skin disease, so in itself it does not affect the fetus. But you need to keep in mind that scratching the skin can cause wounds and cracks. These are ways for dangerous microorganisms and infections to enter the blood. In such a situation, the risk for the unborn baby will be serious. Moreover, lack of treatment leads to inflammation. This causes an increase in body temperature, which, in turn, is very dangerous for the fetus.

In medical practice, there have also been cases when a baby became infected with scabies during his birth. It is very difficult for a newborn child to deal with this unpleasant disease. Finding the right treatment for this situation will not be easy.

Diagnosis of the process in pregnant women

An experienced doctor can make a diagnosis based on dermatoscopy - examination of the skin with a magnifying glass. When magnified, the itch tracts are clearly visible. To make them easier to detect, the skin is pre-tinted with an iodine solution.

There are several laboratory diagnostic methods to confirm the diagnosis:

until drops of blood appear (the material is then examined under a microscope);
extracting the parasite with a thin needle;
alkaline preparation of skin with solutions followed by microscopy.

Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a general blood test: it will increase the ESR and the number of eosinophils.

A pregnant woman should also undergo an extraordinary ultrasound to assess the condition of the fetus.

How to treat scabies

The usual form of the disease can be treated on an outpatient basis. All medications are prescribed only by a dermatologist. Be sure to remind your doctor about your pregnancy.

In addition to you, all family members should undergo preventive treatment to avoid reinfestation (re-infection).
The drugs must be applied strictly according to schedule.
Nails should be trimmed short, and fingertips should also be treated with medications.
Before starting treatment, be sure to take a shower and change your underwear and bed linen. Repeat this procedure before each reapplication of the drug.

After completing treatment, you need to visit a doctor to ensure a positive result.

Drugs allowed during pregnancy

Do not self-medicate, seek help from a doctor.

According to our protocols, two drugs are used to treat scabies in pregnant women:

Benzyl benzoate in the form of a 20% water-soap emulsion or emulsion ointment. The product is quite strong, after one application all the mites die, but the eggs survive. Therefore, the emulsion is applied on days 1 and 4. On the 5th day you can take a shower. Benzyl benzoate is thoroughly rubbed into the skin for 10 minutes. If one course of therapy was not enough, treatment can be repeated after 10 days. Side effect: skin irritation, burning.
Spregal is a combination French medicine. The drug is applied before bed to the entire surface of the body, especially carefully treating the affected areas. It is better for a pregnant woman to cover her mouth and nose with a bandage. After 10-12 hours you can take a shower.

In Western countries, only permethrin is prescribed to pregnant women. It has low toxicity. A single application of the product kills all forms of tick activity, even eggs. In Russia, the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy.

After treatment, itching and rash may persist for 2-3 weeks.

Treatment tactics

The main folk remedies for treating scabies are as follows:

two teaspoons of sulfur, one tablespoon of laundry soap and rendered lard, one teaspoon of tar, all this is mixed and a sulfur ointment is formed. The resulting product must be applied to the skin for five days.
one tablespoon of celandine juice is mixed with four tablespoons of Vaseline, the resulting mixture is smeared on the body at night,
Apply birch tar to the skin and rinse with warm water after three hours,
cook half a liter of mustard oil with one hundred grams of garlic for twenty minutes. Cool the resulting mixture and apply to the affected areas of the body,
It is recommended to use the juice of lingonberry berries and fig leaves for rubbing.

Thus, scabies can negatively affect not only the health of a pregnant woman, but also the intrauterine development of the baby. But this is only possible if the form is running. If treatment was started in the early stages, then there is no threat to the fetus. It is possible that the baby may become infected during childbirth, so doctors recommend undergoing a course of treatment and completely getting rid of the disease before labor begins. Scabies does not induce immunity; the infection may return over time. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the rules and preventive measures.

What to do if your baby gets infected

If for some reason you were unable to cure scabies and your newborn baby gets sick, do not panic.

First of all, take your child to the doctor. Perhaps this is elementary dermatitis.

If scabies is still confirmed, strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations. Usually, the doctor prescribes the same medications as for pregnant women.

Wash and iron your baby's clothes thoroughly. To prevent your child from scratching the rash, wear mittens that completely cover his fingers. And also remember, until you yourself get rid of the symptoms of the disease, your child is in danger.

Traditional medicine to combat scabies during pregnancy

Certain traditional medicines can also bring tangible benefits. Among them, baby cream or tar soap deserve special attention.

A recipe using mustard oil and garlic can help get rid of scabies during pregnancy. By 0.5 kg. oil, take chopped garlic (100 g), then cook the ointment over low heat for 20 minutes. This ointment should be applied to irritated areas of the skin.

In any case, this problem should not be left without due attention. With timely treatment and careful attention to the recommendations of doctors, it is possible to get rid of the problem without consequences for pregnancy and the development of your child.

Disease prevention

To avoid unpleasant manifestations of scabies, a pregnant woman should carefully follow preventive measures.

Avoid places where large numbers of people gather.
In public areas (hotels, trains, airplanes), use your own towels, bed linen and other personal hygiene items.
Don't forget to shower daily.

It is important to closely monitor your own health, and if alarming symptoms appear, consult a doctor. Do not self-medicate, it may harm your child.