Knowra Scabies Scabies Scabies is a contagious skin infestation caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The mites burrow into the outer skin, where their presence triggers intense itching and a characteristic rash.
Sarcoptes scabiei : A parasitic mite whose human-adapted form burrows into skin and causes scabies. This is the mite responsible for the infestation.
Scabies diagnosis : The clinical assessment and, when needed, testing used to determine whether a person has scabies. Typical findings guide diagnosis, while microscopy can confirm mites, eggs, or fecal pellets.
Atopic dermatitis : A chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by itchy, relapsing eczema. It can resemble scabies, but it is not caused by a contagious mite infestation.
Scabies epidemiology : The study of scabies distribution, transmission, and burden across populations. Population patterns show why scabies is common in crowded settings and many tropical regions.
Scabies burrow : A short, winding track in the outer skin made by a female scabies mite. The burrow is the mite’s route through the skin and a visible sign of infestation.
Dermoscopy : A noninvasive examination of skin using a handheld magnifying instrument with illumination. It can reveal a mite at the end of a burrow as a distinctive triangular structure.
Allergic contact dermatitis : An itchy skin inflammation caused by an immune reaction to a substance contacting the skin. Its exposure-shaped rash can mimic scabies without mite burrows or person-to-person spread.
Scabies outbreak : A cluster of scabies cases linked by shared settings or close contact. Outbreaks can spread rapidly in care facilities and other close-contact communities.
Delayed hypersensitivity : An immune response that develops over time after exposure to an antigen and is driven mainly by T cells. The immune response to mites and their products causes much of the itching and rash.
Skin scraping : A diagnostic procedure that collects material from a skin lesion for microscopic examination. Scraping a suspected burrow can identify mites or their eggs.
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