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The Curious Bag
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Scabies, Sarcoptes Scabiei var. hominis is best described by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the human itch mite. The microscopic scabies mite has according to the American Academy of Dermatology been a recorded human infection for more than 2,500 years.
Description
The American Academy of Dermatology describes the scabies mite as an eight-legged creature with a round body that is almost impossible to see with the human eye.
Infection
The female scabies mite is attracted to warm areas of the human body with a strong odor, such as the elbows, wrists, buttocks and nipples where it can burrow beneath the skin and lay eggs.
Contact
Scabies is spread through prolonged physical contact and is particularly prominent in overcrowded situations, such as in nursing homes and prisons, according to the CDC.
Social History
The CDC reports scabies is not a condition associated with personal hygiene it is more prominent in overcrowded low-income communities.
Development
Once larvae hatch the scabies mites move around the body causing an allergic reaction resulting in an irritating itch. A mite scratched off a human can survive in fabric, such as bedding for 24 hours, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, with diagnosis in humans with good hygiene taking up to a month.
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