Diagnosing and treating scabies

A professional doctor is the only one who can properly give a diagnose and prescribe the necessary treatment in order to cure the disease the patient is suffering from. In the case of scabies there are a few obvious symptoms. On of those is the itching( it is more intense in the night). A rash may sometimes appear on the skin, most often looking like tiny curving tracks. In some cases a small blister or black dot will be noticed at the end of the track. In babies the track may take a different appearance; the tracks may look like generally red and inflamed skin, sometimes with small blister like sores. To better see the ravages the scabies has done the doctor will most certainly check the skin for sores, scratches, raw areas, scabs, or red skin that are typical of scabies infestation.

It is very possible that family members or people the patient is close to will itch but would not yet be diagnosed with scabies. To be absolutely sure that scabies is the illness in question, the doctor will do some extra tests. For lab tests he will collect some skin scrapings. This is taken from the itchy area, and it is done by placing a drop of mineral oil or other liquid on the actual sore and afterwards the sample is collected using a scalpel. The sample is then analyzed under a microscope in order to find mites, eggs from the mites, casings or even feces from the little insects. This is known to be the most common test done to diagnose the disease.

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Some other test include the use of special inks. The doctor strokes a washable felt-tip pen across the itchy areas; afterwards the ink is washed away using alcohol or water. Because it is darker in color than the skin the ink will appear as lines , if burrows from the mites actually exist.

Skin biopsies are also very common when trying to diagnose scabies. The doctor will either make a punch biopsy or a shave biopsy. Still the use of these test is very rare. Needle extraction of the mite is again one of the many diagnoses a doctor can make. The doctor extracts a mite using a needle, and after that he closely and thoroughly examines it under a microscope.

There are some things that the patient should always keep in mind. The scabies should be treated only with prescribed drugs and medication( creams or lotions). Nonprescription drugs are just not powerful enough to do the job on their own. It is best to apply the cream on the whole body to be sure that all the mites die. If use of the cream on the face is really needed, extreme care must be taken in order not to get some in the eyes or in the mouth. Children can go to school immediately after the treatment is completed, which can usually be from 1 to 3 days. Extra tests are needed some 3 or 4 weeks after the treatment in order to be sure that the mites are really all dead. The more severe or persistent cases of scabies may be treated by injecting steroids into the nodules. Even coal extracts can be used.