Rabu, 26 September 2012

How Do You Get Scabies?

By Scott Mogul


Is scabies contagious? It sure is! In fact , it is so communicable that doctors customarily insist that all residents of the house have treatment if one member of the house has been diagnosed with scabies, even though they do or don't all have symptoms yet. The danger of all members of the home getting scabies is just too great.

Contact

Most often, scabies is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact. The condition is due to a very small mite that burrows under the skin, where it lays eggs and quickly reproduces. Any close contact with an infected person can transfer the condition, including cuddling, sexual contact, or even shaking hands. Of course, the more direct contact you have with an infected individual, the more your chance of getting scabies. Even brief contact can transfer the condition, however. If you have scabies, you have to avoid close contact with others until the condition has been treated. Speak with your dermatologist about what precautions you should take to prevent spreading the mites to others.

Indirect Contact

While scabies is most often spread by close contact with an infected individual, it may also be transferred by indirect contact. If you share clothing, towels, or bedding with an infected person, you can contract scabies. That's the reason why, when patients are being treated for scabies, they are advised to wash all clothing, towels, and bed linens in very hot water. That way you are not re-infected and you do not transfer the condition to other people. If you have items that can't be washed in hot water, you can seal them in plastic bags for at least one week to exterminate the mites. The mites can't live more than a week without eating.

Animals With Scabies

Is scabies contagious from contact with animals? While animals can get infected with mites like scabies, the mites aren't the same as the mites that infect humans. There's an particular type of mite that causes scabies in humans, and a different strain that causes a scabies-like condition in cats, and still another type that causes a scabies-like condition in dogs (in dogs, the condition is usually called mange). While contact with infected animals may result in a skin reaction in humans, those mites will not live on humans. If you suspect your pet is infected from mites, though, you need to see your vet quickly because the condition will make your pet uncomfortable.




About the Author:



Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar