Scabies fire: symptoms, causes, drugs, ways to deal with it

Definition

What is Norwegian scabies?

Fire scabies or crusted scabies is a very severe form of scabies. This disease is caused by parasitic mites or fleas that are the same as scurvy in general, namely Sarcoptes scabiei, living and lodged in the skin.

The difference is, clites infected with scabies or scabies generally only have 10-15 mites in the skin. But in the case of fire scabies, there are thousands to millions of mites that infect the skin.

Besides being dangerous for sufferers, this skin disease is also very contagious. People with fire scabies can transmit scabies mites more quickly than people with regular scabies.

Medically fire scabies is also known by the name Norwegian scabies . This naming does not indicate that the disease is caused by ticks originating in Norway or that it only affects people of Norwegian descent. This name is taken from the case of scabies crusted which was first discovered in Norway in the mid-19th century.

How common is this disease?

Infectious skin diseases such as scabies or scabies can be experienced by anyone who has physical contact between the skin and the sufferer.

The condition of crusted scabies is generally experienced by people who first experience common scabies. The presence of a disturbance in the immune system makes the mites reproduce faster than they should.

According to DermNet New Zealand, people with scabies who later experience it Norwegian scabies most commonly found in the region of Northern Australia.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of Norwegian scabies?

The body will only show symptoms of scabies after 4-6 weeks after initial exposure to the mite that causes scabies. However, if you have had this disease before, the features and symptoms of scabies may appear more quickly, which is about 1 to 4 days after exposure.

Symptoms of scabies initially appear on the sidelines of the fingers, elbows, knees, palms of the hands and feet. Then it can spread quickly and spread to all parts of the body.

However, according to the CDC, in the vast majority of cases of people with scabies initially may not notice the signs and symptoms of scabies.

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of scabies based on the progression of the disease from the start until the infection gets worse:

• Skin rash

Scabies is initially characterized by the appearance of a skin rash in the form of red spots that may also form pustular nodules. It can look like a pimple, but these pustules usually reveal holes in the skin that are dug up by mites.

• Itchy skin

The skin rash caused by scabies is a common cause of intense itching. The itching sensation on the skin can get stronger and get worse at night. However, in the case of fire scabies, the itching sensation of the rash is usually not very strong.

• Crusty and scaly skin

As the number of mites in the skin increases, the part of the skin that gives rise to the rash will appear red crusted plaques and the skin begins to look scaly.

These symptoms of Norwegian scabies can appear on several different parts of the body at the same time quickly.

• Infectious wounds

Scabies can be very dangerous because this disease is usually accompanied by secondary skin infections caused by bacteria, such as types staphylococcus causes of impetigo. This infection is usually characterized by the appearance of open sores on the skin.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you show signs and symptoms of fire scabies as above, consult a dermatologist immediately.

Norwegian scabies is a skin disease that requires immediate medical attention to avoid more dangerous complications and rapid transmission of the disease.

Cause

What causes Norwegian scabies?

Fire scurvy occurs when there are hundreds to thousands of scabies-causing mites that live and multiply in the skin. Whereas in people with scabies there are usually only 10-20 mites that infect the skin.

In the case of Norwegian scabies, the average mites lodged in the skin can reach 4000 per one gram of skin. People with crusted scabies may also be infected with up to 1 million mites.

The reason why the number of mites that cause scabies can increase in number is not known with certainty.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is known that these events are associated with a rapidly or continuously weakening immune system, disorders of the nervous system, and disabilities in bodily functions.

This corresponds to the condition of the immune system showing an increase in eosinophils when the mites multiply rapidly in the skin,

Risk factors

What puts me at risk of getting scabies (Norwegian scabies)?

Several things and health conditions can increase a person's risk for getting scurvy. The risk factors for this skin disease are:

• Staying in or having constant physical contact with a person who has scabies.
• Experiencing scurvy and not undergoing medication and healthy hygiene behavior.
• Having sexual intercourse with an infected person.
• Have a weak immune condition.
• Have HIV / AIDS.
• Perform organ transplant surgery.
• Have cancer and undergo chemotherapy treatment.
• Live together in nursing homes, prisons, dormitories, and play day care for children who have scabies.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose this disease?

Initially the doctor will perform a physical examination through identifying symptoms on the skin first. The condition of fire scabies can be suspected as other skin diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis.

To get a more definite diagnosis, the doctor will take a sample of the affected skin. Next, the sample will be analyzed under a microscope to see if there are mites or eggs.

Further examination of skin samples may also be done to find out how many Norwegian scabies mites have infected the skin.

Treatment

What is the right treatment for Norwegian scabies?

Because the symptoms are very severe, fire scurvy is also difficult to cure. The treatment that is carried out takes a longer time than ordinary scurvy.

Before undergoing treatment with topical drugs or ointments, the skin that is crusted and scaly must be removed first.

Topical medications (scabies ointment)

Topical medications need to be applied to all infected parts of the body within 8-12 hours so that they are fully absorbed into the skin. The following are types of scabies ointment that can treat scabies:

• 5% permethrin cream, to get rid of scabies and its eggs (for children 2 months and over and pregnant women)
• 25% percent benzyl benzoate lotion
• 5 to 10% sulfur ointment
• 10% crotamiton cream (should not be used for children and pregnant women).
• 1% lindane lotion (not for children under two years, pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, and people weighing less than 50 kg).

Oral medication (ivermectin pills)

Apart from topical drugs, treatment is also combined with oral drugs, namely ivermectin pills. To cure scabies, it takes a dosage 2-3 times higher. Follow the instructions from the doctor for the rules of use.

Symptoms of fiery scabies can greatly reduce a sufferer's quality of life. Therefore, doctors often provide additional treatment such as:

• Antihistamines to control itching and help relax the body during sleep.
• Pramoxine lotion to control unbearable itching.
• Antibiotics to get rid of bacterial infections.
• Corticosteroid ointment to reduce redness, swelling, and itching.

Not only infected people, this scabies treatment is also needed by everyone who has had contact with people who suffer from Norwegian scabies on a regular basis or live with sufferers.

Even though the person doesn't show any signs or symptoms of crusted scabies.