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The Curious Bag
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The Sarcoptes scabiei mite is an infectious parasite and causes the skin condition known as scabies, which is most prevalent in young children. Doctors identify the condition from its primary symptom, a noticeable rash.
Symptoms
The scabies rash consists of circular red welts and thin, red marks that look like lines drawn with a pencil. The rash is extremely itchy and most common in the folds of your skin, like under your arms or behind your knees.
Causes
Scabies spreads through close contact with an infected person or by sharing bedding or clothing. The rash occurs as the female mites burrow into your skin to lay eggs.
Treatment
Doctors prescribe topical medications such as permethrin or crotamiton to kill the scabies mite. Clothing and bedding you wore while you had the rash requires dry cleaning or washing in hot water to avoid reinfection, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Time Frame
Even after the mites die, itching from the scabies rash may persist for several weeks after treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Complications
Scratching the scabies rash may lead to bacterial skin infections such as staph or strep and require additional treatment. People with compromised immune systems due to HIV or leukemia may not respond to treatment and require stronger drugs, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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