Scabies is a really contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite is so tiny that it can be seen only with a magnifying glass or under a microscope. The mite can infect anyone irrespective of age, gender, race, social class or personal-hygiene. It is transmitted from 1 person to another through direct skin contact and occasionally by infected bedding, towels and clothing.
Just how long does scabies last?
The mite can’t survive for more than three days without a human host. It, however, can live for about a month when residing on a human. When on an individual host, the mite lays eggs which hatch and grow into mature fleas. Consequently, if a person becomes infected with the symptoms of the problem, it can last for months or even years without therapy.
Remedy for scabies is quite powerful. Topical drugs for program kill the mites promptly. Appropriate treatment is usually very effective at treating scabies.
Itching is the most common symptom of scabies that may not completely stop for two weeks or more despite successful therapy. If you’ve itching for a couple weeks after therapy, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that the treatment failed. Your doctor can prescribe an antihistamine like Benadryl or a brief path of oral or topical steroids to control the itching. Relief from the itching can be obtained by soaking the affected area in cool water and using calamine cream. Consult the physician in four weeks when there’s persistent itching after therapy to rule out re-infection or incomplete treatment.
