the baddest little bug~ you'll itch to the bone!!!
Sep 29 '00 (Updated Jan 25 '04)
The Bottom Line be smart. arm yourself with knowledge, and don't let the heebie jeebies get the best of you!
ever heard of a fun little word called scabies? now that i know more, it makes me shudder. let me tell you about this interesting vermin i've learned about, and how you can protect yourself and your little ones from this itchy bug... (and i'll give you a hundred bucks if you can read through this without scratching. it's REALLY not for the faint of heart, but something you should know~ i'll try to keep it short...)
WHATTIES?!?!
scabies is the name of an interesting little microscopic, parasitic bug, also called the human itch mite. the female burrows down into your skin and deposits eggs and feces. then you itch like crazy at the allergic reaction your body has. they can't survive for more than 2 days, but if you don't stop the cycle, it will get worse.
DO I OR MY KIDS HAVE THEM?
it was hard for me to tell that i was playing hostess at an unplanned party... i live in a house with two dogs, and their fleas were acting up. then i went and slept outside, and sat on the beach for long amounts of time, much to the delight of spiders and sand fleas.
but when i couldn't stop itching, and i couldn't see big bumps, my friend told me about scabies.
the tell-tale signs: intense itching~ especially at night, small red zig-zag dotted patterns, where the female has gone skin-diving, usually along the belt line, the backside, thighs, elbows, and the backs of hands and between fingers. sometimes they are visible as little zitty whitehead things, and you'll notice welts from scratching incessantly. they are hardly on the face or head, though it is possible with infants. increased itching at night is the big red flag.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!?
scabies was once thought as a socio-economic infection, as was lice, but it can affect anyone, especially where large groups are gathered, like at school.
cleanliness does play a part though, like sharing other people's clothing or articles without washing in hot water, or close physical contact can add fire to the burning itch. make sure your kids don't share brushes and clothing with others, and if infected, that they bleach, or wash in hot water all clothing and blankets.
i suspect that my husband and i got it from using someone else's blanket while we were sleeping outside. ALWAYS wash clothes or blankets that have come in contact with others!!!
GREAT, I'M ITCHIN' LIKE CRAZY!! SO, WHAT NOW?
you need to see a physician. scabies is often confused with other skin conditions such as eczema.
CAN I DO SOMETHING IN THE MEANTIME?
* sometimes you can rid yourself at the early onset by using a sauna, and/or washing, bathing in hot water, or using over-the-counter medicines.
* medicines: Rid is the most popular, (and happens to be the cheapest.) other products to look for are Kleen Kill (also Kleen Away Naturally), or Not Nice To Lice. usually you can use any lice product like Rid. Just check for the label to say something about body lice, another name for scabies. oftentimes any lice product can be used for any type of lice: head lice, body lice, or pubic lice.
hmmm. told you this was tough stuff to read. almost done...
* make sure that you wash in hot water all clothes, towels, bedding and any articles that come in contact with the person. also, if you share a home with others, it won't hurt to treat everyone also.
* for other articles that come in contact with the person, Rid and other products also make a spray just for this purpose. just don't use the spray on humans and always follow directions.
* to be safe, keep the person on close watch to make sure that everything is gone. i've heard that my friend got scabies because even though their friends had and treated it, they didn't treat their car, which she rode in a few days after. this is where the spray comes in handy.
* also if something is unwashable, or you want to be sure you're in the clear, like with a teddy bear, for instance- put the article in a tied trash bag, and keep outside for a week. they will die off after 2 days.
after treatment, check with your physician so he can test to see if they are gone. REMEMBER: it's hard to know when scabies is gone because though you may have ridden yourself from these bad little bugs, you may still itch for up to 2 weeks from the allergic reaction.
MEDICINE FOR KIDS
physicians may prescribe a scabicide, but with children, poison should be the last resort. i've also heard that sulfur~ 9- 12% in a lotion or cream, soaking in a borax solution, or for a natural treatment, black walnut may all help.
ONLY TRY THESE REMEDIES with a go-ahead from your physician!!!
maybe next time i'll try these, if there is a next time!! now, i just want to call a doctor, and get rid of these little buggers.
WARNING
do not accept the prescription medicine lindane, it has been shown as hazardous, especially for kids.
AAAAHHH, AVEENO
REMEMBER, after the mites are gone, the itch may continue for about 2 weeks. URGENT~~ prescription scabicide should NOT BE REAPPLIED, just because the itch is still there!!!
so arm up with Caladryl, and an OTC antihistamine, such as Benadryl, which will help block the itch. Aveeno oatmeal bath may moisturize the skin if you are dried out from all the itch fighters.
HIPPIES KNOW BEST?
and to think, i just thought they were fleas, and wasn't going to visit the doctor's office!!! next time, when it comes to bugs, i'll pay more attention to what the hippies have to say!!!
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coltrane
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Member: trueblue
Location: california, us, earth, milky way
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lover of feet, african drumming, dancing, star-gazing, animals, and various other sundries.
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