Scabies is caused by the scabies mite, a tiny crab-like arachnid that shows up well under a microscope. The females burrow into the skin and lay their eggs there. The eggs hatch after three or four days.
Although scabies causes terrific itching, it is not a serious condition.
Scabies is usually passed on through intensive physical contact.
You can also get it by sleeping in the bed of a person who has scabies, or by wearing their clothes.
The dead scabies mites can continue to cause itching for a while after the treatment.
The itch can even continue for a few weeks.
What will someone notice?
Scabies Symptoms usually start within 3 to 6 weeks after being infected with the tiny body lice.
It might start with a mild irritation followed by an intense itching all over your body.
The itching can be more intensive in more sensitive areas like armpits, in between your toe's and in your genital areas.
Treatment:
Scabies is treated with a cream or a gel.
Bed linen, bath towels and clothes must be washed as well.
It is important that your partners and any other persons with whom you share a bed or clothes are also treated.
Even if they have no complaints, they may still have been infected.
If left untreated scabies can get worse in time as the mites reproduce and increase in numbers.
Cases of Scabies can get serious and create scabs from the scabies burrowing into the skin.
Severe scratching of infected areas can lead to bleeding.
Do you have any symptoms? Or do you think you might have been exposed to unsafe sex? It is important to have yourself tested as soon as possible. For assistance, you can go to: your general practitioner (GP, huisarts in Dutch), the GGD or the AIDS STI Help Line (0900 20420440 (10 ct/min); Monday 10:00-22:00. Tuesday-Friday 14:00-22:00. Mail: infolijn@soaaids.nl)
