Severe itching that increases at night may be a sign of scabies.

associate Dr. Filiz Topaloğlu Demir provided information on scabies, which is more common in community living environments. associate Pointing out that scabies, a highly itchy and contagious parasitic skin disease, is a public health concern, Dr Topaloğlu Demir said: “Scabies is a common public health problem affecting approximately 100 million people each year. It occurs in both sexes, all age groups, all socioeconomic levels, and all ethnic groups, with no distinction between men and women. It is especially common in places where people live together, such as nursing homes, barracks, schools and dormitories. The disease is passed from person to person through close contact (such as sleeping in the same bed, wearing regular clothes), usually in a contact period of 15-20 minutes. The female mite, which is invisible to the human eye, is about 0.4 mm in size.

After mating on the surface of the skin, the male mite dies and the female buries herself under the skin, where she lays eggs for four to six weeks. Egg production occurs at a rate of one to three eggs per day, and the larvae emerge two to three days after the eggs are laid. The larvae mature in about two weeks and the new mites burrow into the surface of the skin to mate and reproduce. When first infested, scabies symptoms due to the sensitivity reaction to mite feces may not develop for up to six weeks, and during this time other people who have contact with the scabies patient, especially those living in the same house, may also become infected. Since it can be confused with many skin diseases such as eczema, hair follicle inflammation, insect bites and fungal infections, the diagnosis can be delayed.

“Attention to shapes such as white color, broken line tunnel”

Assoc states that itching, which increases especially at night and with temperature, is the main symptom of scabies. Dr Topaloğlu Demir continued as follows: “The findings and complaints are more severe between the fingers, the inner part of the wrist, armpits, waist, hip, foot and ankle. It is typical for scabies to have itching, especially around the nipple and around the nipple in women and in the genital area in men.

The most striking finding is white, broken line formations called tunnels, 1-10 mm in length, often seen between the fingers and on the wrist. Apart from this, there may be itchy patches of skin, itchy bumps, millimeter-shaped, pearl-shaped blisters filled with transparent water, and itchy, dandruff-like rashes similar to eczema. The treatment is planned individually by the doctor based on the age of the patient, the special condition (such as pregnancy, breastfeeding) and the severity of the disease. Creams and lotions containing permethrin, mixtures with sulfur are commonly used topical (applied to the body) treatments. Before starting the treatment, it is very important for a successful treatment to cut the nails short and to take a bath by cutting. Oral medications are given to kill the parasite in resistant patients who do not respond to topical treatments. Everyone who shares the same living environment must be treated simultaneously, even if they have no active complaints at that time. Despite proper treatment, itching and symptoms can persist for up to 2 to 6 weeks. Repeated applications may be required.”