Norwegian scabies is a dangerous and serious disease with a chronic course. Needless to say, this disease is rare. In medical practice, about 150 cases of the disease were registered. The disease is accompanied by deep skin lesions and, if not properly treated, can lead to dangerous complications up to the death of the patient.
Characteristics of the exciter
It was believed that the causative agent of this disease is Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, a scabies itch, infection that occurs through contact with a sick person. But with further research, scientists were able to find out that the disease also develops against the background of invasion by an ordinary scabies mite. By the way, for the first time Norwegian scabies was officially registered in Norway at the end of the 19th century, which, in fact, explains the name.
Tick infects human skin regardless of age or gender. They are small parasiteswhose body is 0.25-0.3 mm (males are slightly smaller). Females are dangerous, as males die immediately after fertilization. Females move in the layers of the patient's skin, forming "moves" and laying eggs. Larvae emerge from them, which become sexually mature after 4 to 7 days, after which they emerge through the skin through the ventilation passages that the female lays.
Are there risk factors?
Norwegian crusted scabies develops against the backdrop of a weakened immune system, as this allows mites to multiply actively. Scientists identify several risk factors:
- presence of HIV infection in the body;
- systemic autoimmune diseases, including lupus erythematosus;
- oncological diseases;
- common candidiasis;
- tuberculosis, leprosy and some other diseases;
- exhaustion of the body that occurs against the background of nervous overstrain, severe stress, alcoholism;
- neurological and psychiatric disorders, including infantilism, dementia, dementia;
- long-term therapy with cytostatics and hormonal steroid drugs;
- paralysis, impaired sensitivity of peripheral nerves.
Transmission routes
Norwegian scabies is a highly contagious disease. One infected person can lead to an outbreak of the disease. The scabies mite can live in the external environment for up to 2 weeks. The most common is the contact route of transmission - the parasite can be picked up whencontact with human skin, for example, when shaking hands, hugging, during sexual intercourse. By the way, pathogens become most active in the evening and at night.
A household way of transmission is also possible. For example, when living in the same house with a sick person, the infection can be caught by using the same utensils, bedding, towels, clothes, toys and other items.
Clinical picture: what symptoms accompany the disease?
The incubation period is about 2-6 weeks. Further, the disease can develop for years and even decades. The patient rarely has a fever, but the skin becomes very dry and hot to the touch - these are the first symptoms of scabies in adults.
Ticks multiply very quickly - during diagnostics, thousands of microorganisms are often found in the upper layers of the skin. Parasites move under the skin, which is accompanied by swelling, redness. Itching is present in only 50% of patients. The moves of the scabies mite, as a rule, begin from the lateral surfaces of the fingers. The concentration of pathogenic microorganisms can be observed on the skin between the fingers, on the back of the knees and elbows, in the area of the mammary glands. Parasites infect the lower abdomen and foreskin of the penis.
Due to the formation of burrows, the patient's skin gradually becomes thicker and rougher. Scabs of gray, yellow and even greenish color are formed on it. In the absence of treatment, the upper skin layers take the form of a shell covered with grooves. When removedreddish skin with foci of erosion can be seen on the upper crusts.
Norwegian scabies is accompanied by the appearance of scabs all over the body, including the face. The patient's nails thicken, become loose and change color - the process resembles a fungal infection of the nail plate. Human hair becomes dull, thin and brittle. The patient emits a characteristic sour smell, which is an important diagnostic criterion.
Diagnosis of disease
It is very important to correctly diagnose the disease. Medicine knows the case when the patient was misdiagnosed and prescribed treatment for psoriasis. This led to the generalization of the process and the death of the patient.
Of course, taking an anamnesis and examining skin tissues should lead a specialist to the idea of scabies. The epithelium is covered with crusts, and the skin on the folds of the neck, groin and armpits acquires more pronounced pigmentation. Next, the patient takes a blood test - in the samples, a specialist can detect an increase in the number of eosinophils and leukocytes. There is a more accurate method that allows you to diagnose the disease. For analysis, tissue samples are taken from the thickened stratum corneum of the skin. Norwegian scabies is characterized by the presence of scabies in the biopsy. Eggs and larvae of mites, as well as adults, can also be seen in skin samples.
Basic Principles of Therapy
Norwegian scabies is treated with special ointments:
- The first stage of treatment -removal of crusts and keratinized skin. For this purpose, ointments made on the basis of sulfur or salicylic acid are used. These preparations soften tissues and facilitate easy removal of damaged areas.
- The second stage is the treatment of the skin with antiparasitic agents (mainly those containing benzyl benzoate). There are several rules here. Ointments are applied to clean, dry skin (you must take a shower before the procedure). Means need to treat the whole body, and not just the affected areas. The cream should remain on the skin for at least 12 hours.
- During therapy, be sure to change bed linen, clothes and towels every day (they must then be washed at a high temperature).
- Often, against the background of the use of ointments, there is a strong itching and burning sensation. This is not an indication for discontinuation of therapy. The fact is that due to the mass death of parasites and the release of toxins into the blood, the patient often develops an allergic reaction. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines.
The drug "Benzyl benzoate": instructions for use, price
As already mentioned, this drug is most often used to treat Norwegian scabies. What is Benzyl Benzoate? Instructions for use, price, properties - these are the questions that interest each patient.
The drug is available as a cream intended for external use. The active substance of the drug is able to penetrate throughchitinous tick shell and accumulate in the body of the pathogen in toxic concentrations. The use of this tool allows you to get rid of adults and larvae, but in relation to the eggs of parasites, it is inactive. You need to apply the cream on the skin, first trying to clean it as much as possible from crusts and upper dead layers. Sometimes rubbing the product may be accompanied by a slight burning sensation.
Ointment (or emulsion) should not be used if there are abscesses on the skin. The price of the drug is not too high - a jar of cream with a volume of 50 g will cost about 60 - 100 rubles.
Sulfur ointment: simple instructions for use
There are many other remedies used for Norwegian scabies and similar diseases. For example, sulfuric ointment (simple) is considered effective. Instructions for use states that the drug has antiparasitic, antifungal and keratoplastic properties, helps soften the skin and facilitates the removal of scabs. The ointment contains precipitated sulfur, as well as petroleum jelly and an emulsifier. When applied externally, the components practically do not penetrate into the bloodstream.
The drug is used to treat scabies, acne, psoriasis, demodicosis, pediculus, dandruff. Before applying the ointment to the skin, you need to take a shower. The remains of the ointment can not be washed off during the day. The procedure is repeated for three days in a row. Sulfur ointment is a cheap and effective treatment. But today the drug is rarely used. The fact is that the tool has a sharp,unpleasant smell, and stains on clothes and bed linen.
Prevention measures
Norwegian scabies is an extremely dangerous and contagious disease. Therefore, it is worth adhering to some safety rules:
- If you had to contact with a sick person, you need to see a doctor - he will prescribe preventive antiparasitic drugs.
- If there is an infected person in the house, then you need to strictly adhere to the rules of hygiene. All towels, clothes and bedding used by the patient should be washed at a high temperature (the scabies mite dies at temperatures above 60 degrees in 2 hours). Boiling and ironing kills parasites.
- The room also needs to be treated using alkaline and chlorinated solutions for cleaning.
- Patients after the end of antiparasitic therapy are also prescribed antibacterial agents to prevent complications.
This is a serious disease - it should neither be ignored nor attempted to be treated on one's own. Traditional methods and home remedies can only be used with the permission of the attending physician and only along with drug therapy.
