Fighting Scabies 👊

Scabies, considered for generations as a "disease of poverty", is an an ectoparasite of worldwide distribution, relatively frequent, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis.

The transmission is usually produced by:

• Person to person, by direct contact: It is common the transmission of parents to children, and especially from mother to child (the routine). In young adults, the most frequent mode of transmission is through sexual contact.

• Contact with contaminated objects: Contagion has been reported from the use of clothing or handling of heavily contaminated clothing. For sleeping in a bed recently occupied by an infested person, or by using other contaminated objects for personal use (sheets, towels).

Author: W. Linsenmaier -Source:Wikipedia - License: Public Domain

Upon contact with the skin, fertilization occurs on the surface of the skin. The fertilized female quickly digs a burrow into the stratum corneum of the epidermis, and extends approximately 2 to 5mm each day. As he moves, he lays his eggs (2 to 3 eggs per day) and dies after one to two months. The hatching of the larvae occurs in 3 or 4 days, and they become nymphs in 3 to 8 days, and later in adults in 12 to 15 days and the cycle continues.

The parasite burrows through the secretion of proteolytic enzymes that cause damage at the level of keratinocytes, possibly responsible for the itching originated.

The disease begins with an intensely pruritic papular rash, which intensifies at night and with heat. Probably due to a sensitization to mite antigens.

The sites of predilection are the interdigital folds, the flexor faces of the wrists, the extensor surfaces of the elbows, the anterior axillary folds, the belt line, the thighs, the navel, the penis, the area surrounding the nipples, the abdomen, the outer edges of the feet and the lower portion of the buttocks. (In adults usually respect head, neck and feet).

Unlike adults in young children, injuries predominate on the scalp, neck, face, folds, palms and soles.

The pathognomonic lesions are the groove and the mite papule. The first consists of a linear elevation of the skin a few millimeters in length that corresponds to the subcorneal tunnel excavated by the female mite, capable of moving about 5 mm each day. At the end of it there is a papule or vesicle 2-3 mm in diameter, where the parasite is.

Scabies on the arm - Author: Steschke -Source:Wikipedia - License: Public Domain

Scabies on the hand - Author: Steschke - Source:Wikipedia - License: Public Domain

The incubation period in people without previous exposure is usually 4 to 6 weeks. People who were previously infected develop symptoms 1 to 4 days after the new exposure to the mite, but these reinfections are usually milder

The females of the parasite are able to put between 10 and 40 eggs that mature in 1 week. The mites reach the adult stage in 3 weeks and are able to restart the cycle.

Usually the patient's clinic is enough. However, confirmation of the diagnosis is obtained by visualizing the mite, its feces or the eggs in skin scrapings of several lesions without excoriating. The application of water, alcohol or Vaseline on the skin facilitates the collection of scrapes, which should be placed on a slide under a coverslip to be examined under a microscope.

About 1 year ago, I carried out my community service project with other colleagues. Among so many places we decided to work with a community of Punta Cardón, specifically in the "Los Rosales" sector, of Punto Fijo, Falcón state.

Next to my work group - Own Photo - Taken with Galaxy S3 mini cell phone

The great problem that existed at that time was that preschoolers commonly suffered from scabies. In fact, it was one of the main diagnoses in the community clinic.

For this reason we say to work specifically with ** "El Simoncito" ** or preschool of the community, to deal mainly with the issue of prevention of scabies. Our population was composed of children who attended the institution, teachers, and of course the respective representatives.

As work strategies we implement educational talks aimed at teachers on hygiene measures and prevention of scabies. In the same way we impart knowledge to representatives of care and handling in the home of children with this ectoparasite.

In the community giving information from house to house - Own Picture - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

Attendees to the informative talk - Own Photo - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

And for the little ones, we bring a little information through dynamics, games, and a play with puppets.

Giving a special educational talk for children - Own Photo - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

Educational dynamics - Own Picture - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

Work with puppets - Own Picture - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

We also leave an educational poster for the institution, in order to keep present the knowledge imparted day by day.

Making the school billboard - Own Photo - Taken with S3 mini cell phone.

Final result - Own Photo - Taken with S3 mini cell phone.

We can say that the project was carried out according to expectations. We enjoyed and shared pleasant moments with the whole community, especially with the smallest ones who entertained us with all their occurrences. Apparently the information was clear, and in the following months the rates of incidence of scabies decreased a little, according to what the doctor told us about the outpatient clinic.

Final activity in the preschool - Own Photo - Taken with S3 mini cell phone

References:

• Red Book, Enfermedades Infecciosas en pediatría, 22ª Edición. Páginas 365-367

• Centro Nacional de Excelencia Tecnológica en Salud:Fuente

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