Scabies - Causes
What caused your scabies?
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What is scabies? What causes a scabies infestation?
Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Mites are small eight-legged parasites (in contrast to insects, which have six legs). They are tiny, just 1/3 millimeter long, and burrow into the skin to produce intense itching, which tends to be worse at night. The mites that infest humans are female and are 0.3 mm-0.4 mm long; the males are about half this size. Scabies mites can be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope. The scabies mites crawl but are unable to fly or jump. They are immobile at temperatures below 20 C, although they may survive for prolonged periods at these temperatures.
Scabies infestation occurs worldwide and is very common. It has been estimated that worldwide, about 300 million cases occur each year. Human scabies has been reported for over 2,500 years. Scabies has been reported to occur in epidemics in nursing homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other institutions. In the U.S., it is seen frequently in the homeless population but occurs episodically in other populations of all socioeconomic groups as well.
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I was at a friend's house where they had rescued two cute little puppies. They looked like they had mange, but I thought humans couldn't get mange. About a week later I talked to the dog's owner and she asked me if I got mange, I said no. The next day I had a rash all over both arms. In desperation I threw all kinds of chemicals on it, and ended up killing it with lighter fluid. I thought I was in the green except a week later I had a rash all over my torso and back, luckily I know it is scabies and will go to the doctor in the morning. I think I will get it under control, but I work at a retail store where I measure and dress people and I am too embarrassed to tell my employers in fear of losing my job, but I am tortured by the fact that I could be infecting the whole city.
The mites can transmit from canines to humans, unfortunately. My dog's dermatologist told me that the rash, I thought was razor burn on my shins, was transmitted by my field Irish Setter whose condition was hidden by allergies that manifest in dermatitis and missed by his regular vet. It made perfect sense! The dog regularly curled up in the crook of my legs and the mites found a new place to settle. I'm not sure why doctors say otherwise, ask any vet and they will tell you the mite will cross species. It is maddeningly itchy as well. I am on my second treatment of Permethrin.
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