Martyna Bakutytė¹

¹Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

Summary

Human scabies is skin disease resulting from the infestation of ectoparasites – Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. Scabies are widespread in many underdeveloped countries and it is a common public health problem in poor communities. Outbreaks of scabies are detected in kindergartens, schools, nursing homes and prisons, where there are large numbers of people and good conditions for the spread of scabies. Scabies spread by direct contact with an infected person or transmission of the disease can also occur by fomite transmission via clothing. The most common sign of scabies is itching, which mostly occurs at night. There are three clinical forms of scabies: classic scabies, nodular scabies and crusted scabies. Scabies is mainly diagnosed by detail medical history, objective examination, skin scraping microscopy, dermatoscopy, videodermoscopy and skin biopsy with histological examination. There are various treatments available for scabies: permethrin 5% cream, benzyl benzoate 20%, sulfur 33,3%, oral ivermectin. All close contacts, even if asymptomatic, should be treated.

Keywords: scabies, ectoparasites, Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis.