Scabies outbreak warning: Symptoms, prevention, advice

Scabies is spreading and it is an extremely contagious skin disease caused by the attack of a microscopic organism named “Sarcoptes scabiei”. This disease spreads rapidly through direct contact, or by using an infected person’s clothes, bedsheets, or pillows.

This germ multiplies very quickly in hot and humid environments.

The common symptoms of scabies include the appearance of water-filled bumps or a small rash on the skin, the bumps spreading rapidly across the body due to scratching, and itching worsening at night.

Moreover, bumps may appear between the fingers, in skin folds, armpits, around the navel, on the genitals, and, in the case of children, on the neck or palms of the hands, while pus or pain may develop in the infected areas.

Regarding necessary actions and precautions, one should stay clean and wash everything, including the infected person’s used clothes, bedsheets, and pillow covers, in hot water and dry them in strong sunlight.

Others must not use the belongings of the infected person. If any family member becomes infected, it is essential for everyone to receive treatment together, and if someone in a mess or hostel gets infected, they should be isolated quickly and arranged for treatment.

Instead of using any medication or steroid cream at one’s own discretion, one should seek the advice of a specialist.

In terms of treatment, permethrin 5 percent cream or lotion and monosulfiram solution are usually used for scabies. However, the dosage of medication varies depending on the patient’s age and weight.

If necessary, antibiotics are prescribed for infections, or moisturizers are given to keep the skin soft.

Writer: Specialist in Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy at Aalok Healthcare, Mirpur