Scabies a Disease of our Lives

Scabies – a contagious infection of the skin -- is generally known as the ‘human itch’. Scabies itch can attack anyone anywhere. So beware of dark and damp places! Cinema and theatre halls, crowded hospitals and similar other places are the breeding grounds for such scabies-causing mites. Scabies can be sexually transmitted as well.

Once you visit such places, always keep aside those clothes. Never mix them with the wardrobe. Have them properly washed with warm disinfected water and detergent prior to using them again. To be cautious is always important as scabies can spread via touch and by sharing of the infected clothes. Moreover, don’t share bed clothes or towels. Scabies is so dangerously contagious that shaking hands with a person having scabies is the most guaranteed method to have scabies.

Scabies is caused by a commonly found household mite – Hering (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). Scabies itches are caused by the eggs of the female mite that reacts with our skins. The lesions are formed when the mother mite attempts to scourge into the skin. The consequence is a rash that becomes irritating and a rather painful and embarrassing habit.
The female mites like to lay eggs mainly between and on the sides of our fingers, wrists, waist line, heels, armpits, elbows, inner thighs and on the back sides of our hands. Always take the precautions, the itching symptoms appear. And if your general constitution is not very strong, always take the preventive measures! The human itch is most prominent during night time as the entire body starts to itch. The worrying part of scabies is that the symptoms start appearing only after the ailment has already started developing. One can have a look at these itches with a magnifying glass.

Naturally available herbs are good medications to treat scabies. Crush fresh leaves of apricot leaves and paste the resultant juice on the infected portion(s); apply turmeric powder mixed with the paste of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf and mustard oil on the affected area 60 minutes before bathing. The lesions should vanish if you repeat the procedure for at least 10 days. A good dusting powder is made from the finely grounded bark of the Sacred Fig Ficus religiosa (peepul) tree and then strained to cure the lesions. Furthermore, one can make a liquid ointment to cure scabies. You just need to combine half a kilogram of drumstick leaves with same amount of oil extracted from the sesame seed and boil the mixture until the water dries. The anti-microbial elements of this homemade concoction will not only provide relief from the itches but will also quicken the disappearance of the lesions. But never use commodities that you may be allergic to. These are just suggestions. Always seek the advice of the physician instead of trying to cure scabies.

One can also go for the scabies curing creams available across the counter. Here’s a list of some of the precautions that you can take at home to cure scabies. Go for a shampoo to kill the lice and to also destroy the eggs on your body in a sauna bath. Have your clothes properly washed by a laundry once you visit the aforementioned potential breeding places. Pay special attention to your bedding, towels and undergarments. Regularly check yourself for probable scabies infections. Always cut and trim your nails and be particular about the nails of the children in your household. These kids can be ideal conduits for the scabies mites. Use chemicals like Permethrin, Sulfur, Malathion, besides emulsion like Benzyl benzoate to kill the scabies mites.

Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published one popular adventure book for children and has published more than 1000 articles for various sites, as such