Because of the scratching may appear secondary infections and irritations and during the night it may be quite severe. In enfants and children it may be confused with impetigo and eczema. The mite can be found between the layers of the skin where the females burrow their eggs.

Scabies appears a problem in overcrowded communities and less developed countries. It may become a public health problem if it is not treated adequate. In immunocompromised patients it appears as a marker disease, the crusty form of scabies is highly contagious and difficult to treat. The main infected spots are: the fingers, breasts in women, genitalia in men, wrists and elbows, in children the scalp and the face might be affected too.

Skin scraping make the diagnosis if examined in microscope, clinical signs are more helpfully to put the diagnosis. In children the lesions are usually present on the soles of their feet and hands and they may be confused with impetigo and eczema which can't be cured with drugs for impetigo and eczema. It has been discovered that the aborigines have a high risk of developing scabies:

Because of sharing beds, crowded places, more children population, failure in recognizing the infestation with scabies, reduced access to medical care, faulty treatments, no results in the treatment of close contacts, lack of water for washing and failure in eradicating scabies from clothing and bed lining.

Although dermatologists sustain that can affect anyone regardless of personal hygiene, age or race, there are million cases of scabies every year. The symptoms are more severe in some people than in others. To prevent the re-infestation it is indicated to wash all the clothes, bedding, towels and linens.

How is controlled scabies in community

There haven? t been estimated recently the extent and prevalence of endemic scabies in communities sometimes epidemics occur every 15-30 years and appear more often than diarrhea or upper respiratory disease. It is important to introduce mass treatment programs for the whole community to reduce the prevalence and infestation.

With permethrin or ivermectin the prevalence and spreading in the population is held under control. Kwellada-P Lotion, Reed & Carnick, Canada; Nix Dermal Creme, Glaxo Wellcome, Canada all of them contain 5% permethrin have good results when applied properly. Ivermectin is effective in one dose, oral medication and that's why seems to be more advantageous, while permethrin should be applied on the skin perhaps several times.